Chris Brown Invitational precedes Cayman event
Sports Scope By FRED STURRUP, The Nassau Guardian
Track and field (athletics) is rocking in the Caribbean these days. More than ever before, the world is paying attention to the Caribbean, primarily because of the awesome sprint talents that have emerged in large numbers.
In 2012 at the London Olympics, the Caribbean won gold medals in the men’s 4XlOO and 4X400 meters (m) relays. That had never happened before. Jamaica, with the great Usain Bolt, repeated as Olympic champion in the sprint relay, and The Bahamas, on the legs of the ‘Golden Knights’ (Chris Brown, Demetrius Pinder, Michael Mathieu and Ramon Miller) won the 1,600m relay.
The beat certainly goes on. Now, The Bahamas and the Cayman Islands have joined Jamaica in staging track and field invitational events. Here in The Bahamas, the first Chris Brown Invitational is scheduled for Apri113. Brown, a noted world figure in track and field, who is beloved by his Caribbean brother and sister athletes, will be a part of history in the 40th year of Bahamian independence, when his event is held at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium.
Former Olympic sprint champion Veronica Campbell-Brown of Jamaica, reigning Olympic 400m champion Kirani James of Grenada, former Olympic champion American Justin Gatlin and Wallace Spearman are some of the names reportedly confirmed for the event here. The Chris Brown Invitational will be an excellent prelude to the International Association of Athletics Federations’ (IAAF) first World Relays, set for the national stadium in 2014. The Bahamas thus, has evolved as a significant part of the strong Caribbean track and field movement.
Across the region, an announcement was made that the Cayman Islands has scheduled its second invitational for May 8.The veteran track and field athlete Cydonie Mothersill has been appointed meet director and the event has gotten off with a bang. Bolt, according to reports, has already confirmed his participation. This is huge. Where Bolt goes, the world follows, so, with him in the mix, the event is guaranteed to be highly successful.
Meanwhile, at home, it is understood that talks are presently ongoing to have the big guy from Jamaica, the “bolt of lightening” show up for the Brown invitational in some capacity. Based on what I’m hearing, the planning phase is going smoothly for the invitational. However, a confirmation from Bolt would immediately transform everything, so while the invitational in The Bahamas will be held prior to the one in the Cayman Islands this year, they’ve gained the inside track on Bolt.
It’s a big plus situation for the Caribbean though, this evolution of big time track and field invitational events in parts of the Caribbean other than Jamaica. This is yet another sign that there is the full intention within the Caribbean for the region to remain a top world power in the sport.
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