The Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations officially named its 2009 Carifta Track and Field management team on Tuesday at the College of The Bahamas Wellness Center.
With the Carifta Games set for April 10-13, the Easter Holiday weekend in Saint Lucia, it was revealed that Assistant Athletic Director at COB and former Carifta and national standout in the shot put and discus Bradley Cooper would serve as head coach.
Cooper who has been coaching for more than 10 years since his retirement from active competition thanked the BAAA executives for having the confidence in him to head the team this year.
"It has been quite a while for me working with junior athletes on the international scene, but I have been working with junior athletes locally for more than 10 years, and after watching the athlete’s performances over the last few weeks, I can say that we have the best possible representation to win many medals and bring back personnel best marks," said Cooper.
With a young coaching slate in terms of the years of qualification, Cooper said he believes they are going to do an "excellent" job.
Trying to generate a good fan base for this weekend’s Carifta trial, Cooper encourages the general public to support the trials because it "motivates the athletes to perform at their maximum."
BAAA president Curt Hollingsworth said the trial this weekend will serve as the final opportunity for those athletes trying to qualify for the national team.
Additionally, all athletes wishing to be a part of the team must compete at the trials even if they have already qualified in their event.
Hollingsworth added that collegiate athletes who fail to show up at the trials would not be considered if athletes locally have qualified for the same event.
Speaking on the coaching aspect of the national teams, Hollingsworth reminded that at this stage, coaches are only there to manage the athletes.
"I don’t expect coaches on these teams to tamper with an athletes technique within a week or two prior to the meet. Our job really is to motivate, encourage and to manage the athletes who are in our care for the duration of the national team," he said. In 2008 The Bahamas finished third with eight gold medals.
