The track and field facilities at Preston H. Albury High School played host on Wednesday, February 26th, and Friday, February 28th, to the island-wide 2025 Eleuthera District High School Track and Field Championships.
Eight high schools took part. They were, Harbour Island All Age, Samuel Guy Pinder All Age, North Eleuhera High, Central Eleuthera High, Windermere High, Preston H. Albury High, Deep Creek Middle School and the Wellington Preparatory School. Students, on the Thursday and Friday, competed in a variety of athletics, including 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 3000m and 5000m races – long jump, triple jump, shot put, discus and javelin field events, as well as, 4 x 100m and 4 x 400m relay races.
Although fewer in number than in 2024, officials and volunteers coordinating the multiple events demonstrated a commendable level of organization with what appeared to be a fairly efficient system of student pre-registrations before the event, the wearing of individual bibs by athletes for easy indentification, organized record-keeping before and after each event., and unofficial results, which were digitally completed as each day’s event came to a close.
Uniformed officials involved in the 2025 Track Championships were part of a group of specially certified individuals from across the island, under the umbrella of the Bahamas Association of Certified Officials’ (BACO) local Eleuthera chapter, with a current membership of about 20 people. Mr. Tony Crean, served as the event director.
Challenges during the competition were legacy issues, to do with basic equipment, like the high jump facility, which was non-existent – hence, no high jump was contested, the age old issue of uneven surfacing of the grass and sand track, as well as – although certified and well organized, a short hand of enough officials to ideally run the days’ program of events.
Student performances, with the exception of several standout talents, were generally challenged, especially in the longer races – indicating again this year, a lack of conditioning and training of a number of the participating students within the schools ahead of the competitive event.
Eleventh grader, Gwarna Francique of North Eleuthera High School – winner in the female open 3000 meter contest, following her race, shared that her school coach put her and her teammates through rigorous preparation for their races, with timed laps, warm-ups and stretches. She encouraged her peers, with the advice of pacing themselves during the longer races, for the aim of enduring to the end. 5000 meter winner, Welkin Durolin, a 16 year-old tenth grader at North Eleuthera High, commented that he had to put in the hard work and have dedication in the run-up to the competition – he also emphasized the guidance and training regimen required by his coaches, Mr. Cambridge and Mr. Pablo and the importance of consistent practice for success.
Lovely Sawyer, an eleventh grader of Harbour Island All Age in the under 17 category, and winner in both the 100m and 400m races, following her run, shared that she had a passion for racing. She encouraged her fellow competitors not to doubt themselves, reflecting on her own moments of uncertainty, saying, “Don’t doubt yourself because I doubted myself in the 400 meters. But look what I did, I did my best.”
The Track and Field Championships, with all of its challenges, was still fully enjoyed by supportive spectators on both Wednesday and Friday. A VIP tent was also once again set up near the finish-line, where for a fee, sports-loving community members, parents, family and friends, could sit close to the action and enjoy the good-natured school rivalries in comfort, cheering on each race and performance.
After all the excitement of competition, Preston H. Albury High retained the championship title coming in first place with 1,010 points, and 17 gold medal performances. North Eleuthera High School, which claimed the highest total of gold medals at 23, had to contend with second place, having racked up 845 points overall. In third was Central Eleuthera High School, which garnered 22 gold medals over the course of the meet with several dominant performances, but in the end finished with 753 points overall.
In the official results, Harbour Island All Age School finished in fourth, with 684 points. Fifth place went to Deep Creek Middle School, with 194 points. In sixth place was Windermere High School, with 150 points, followed by Samuel Guy All Age in seventh, with 128 points, and Wellington Preparatory School in eighth, earned 4 points.
