Sports

Valcourt Advances to 400m and 4x400m Relay Finals

UNITED STATES – The first day of women’s competition at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships produced mixed results for the Bahamian contingent, highlighted by a place in the national final for Tennessee’s Javonya Valcourt.

Published

13 hours ago

June 12, 2026

10th Year Seniors

Valcourt continued her impressive season with a time of 50.75 seconds in the women’s 400 meters semifinal, finishing second in her heat and sixth overall to secure an automatic qualifying spot in Saturday’s championship race.

Florida’s Quincy Penn narrowly missed out on the final after running 51.33 seconds to finish 10th overall, while Texas A&M’s Lacarthea Cooper placed 17th in 51.65 seconds, and Texas Tech’s Collinique Farrington was 20th in 51.96 seconds.

The Bahamian quartet also returned to the track in the women’s 4×400-meter relay preliminaries with Valcourt and Penn extending their NCAA Championship campaigns.

Tennessee advanced to the final after clocking 3:25.21 to finish second in its heat, while Florida’s 3:26.06 was enough to secure one of the final qualifying spots on time.

Texas A&M and Texas Tech both saw their seasons come to an end in heartbreaking fashion. The Aggies ran 3:30.92, and the Red Raiders followed just behind in 3:30.93, with Texas Tech missing a place in the final by just one hundredth of a second.

2026 Budget Communication

Sailing, The Bahamas’ national sport, is set to receive more than $2.3 million in direct funding under the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture’s 2026 budget allocations.

Minister Mario Bowleg announced a new budget line item titled “Contribution: New Providence and Family Island Regatta,” which has been allocated $1.802 million.

The funding will support regattas throughout the country, including the planned reintroduction of regatta competition in Grand Bahama, while also supporting youth development, training opportunities and cultural preservation initiatives.

An additional $500,000 has been earmarked specifically for the continued development of sailing.

The funding will support the creation of a National Sailing Federation, a National Sailing Commission and a National Sailing Academy, all aimed at strengthening governance, athlete development and international competitiveness.

Bowleg said the investments are part of a broader vision to position The Bahamas as a premier sailing destination, while creating greater opportunities for Bahamians to participate and compete at every level of the sport.

Tennis

For the first time, the 2026 AID Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association Junior National Championships will be hosted at the John McEnroe Tennis Center at Baha Mar.

The BLTA announced a partnership with the Baha Mar Foundation, whose support is expected to help elevate this year’s championships and enhance the experience for the country’s top junior players.

Competition is scheduled for June 26-30, and registration remains open through June 17.

Officials say the event represents a new chapter for tennis in The Bahamas, as the sport continues to expand its footprint through new facilities, partnerships and opportunities for young athletes.