Bahamian collegiate athletes are gearing up to take part in the 2026 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Track and Field Championships, set for last week in Eugene, Oregon, USA.
A total of 10 Bahamian collegians will be representing the nation at the highly competitive national meet.
Blue Chip Athletics alumni throwers Keyshawn Strachan, Calea Jackson and Kaden Cartwright are among the Bahamian competitors eager to make their presence felt.
Strachan will be one to watch at the upcoming championships, as he has come close to cracking the top three during the last two seasons while competing in the men’s javelin throw event.
Last season, Strachan concluded the men’s javelin final at the NCAAs with a best throw of 76.44 meters (m) — 250’ 9” — and the season prior, he finished the NCAAs with a best toss of 74.95m (245’ 11”). He finished fifth both times.
The men’s national record holder in the javelin is feeling as healthy as he has in recent seasons after dealing with nagging elbow injuries.
He is entering the meet with a season-best measurement of 81.86m (268’ 7”), achieved at the Big Red Classic in Lincoln, Nebraska, in April.
The University of Nebraska athlete was shy of his current national record of 84.27m (276’ 5”).
His expectation is high going into the meet.
“My expectation going into the NCAA Championships is to just win it all,” Strachan said. “What’s going to be different this year is that I am way more healthier. I am not hurt anymore so it is something to consider. My mindset is just different. I am more confident in myself now ahead of the NCAA Championships.”
Strachan also referenced his time with Blue Chip, which, in his words, prepared him for moments like this.
“Training with Blue Chip and Coach Corey, I live for moments like this,” he said. “As you recall, 2019 in my first CARIFTA, and my second CARIFTA under-20 when I broke both of the records is basically similar to this. I am always prepared for moments like these and always confident, focused and ready to go. It is gonna be a fun meet competing with good competitors. It is gonna be a good one.”
Also competing in the men’s javelin event will be Cartwright. He advanced to the NCAA Division I Track and Field Championships after producing an eighth-place overall personal best throw of 68.78m (225’ 8”) while competing at the NCAA East Preliminary Round earlier this month.
University of Miami’s Calea Jackson is also looking to make some noise after securing her spot with a personal best heave of 58.26m (191’ 2”) in the women’s discus at the NCAA East Preliminary Round.
Jackson has recorded five top-three finishes this season. She spoke about her expectation going into the meet.
“The only expectation I have is to be consistent,” she said. “I will do what I have to do, the goal is to be consistent with the performance I had last meet. If I focus on that, I should be successful. I think the key to my success this season has just been consistenty with practice and staying the course. Even when results didn’t come immediately or I had bad meets, I didn’t let that discourage me and had faith that my hard work was going to pay off. Blue Chip has definitely prepared me mentally and physically for college. I attribute a lot of my mental toughness to the club.”
Blue Chip Athletics Head Coach Corrington Maycock is expecting each of the athletes to put their best foot forward.
“It’s a great feeling to have those athletes make it to that level of college athletics,” he said. “In Blue Chip Athletics, this is what we prepare them for, just like at national meets we’re not pleased just going there but actually becoming a part of the medal count.
“Keyshawn, the veteran out of the group, you can always expect a high-powered performance from him. He should do very well at these championships. He was injured and had a procedure done before the season but he’s going to overcome all of that.
“Kaden’s first time at the big dance should be fun for him. Still only a freshman at this stage, you would want him to go out there and compete. Experience will help him to get to Keyshawn’s level. Kaden is a competitor so I’m looking for a very nice showing from him.
“Calea had a huge personal best last week at the regionals. That was expected. Anyone who knows Calea, know she was very good from seventh grade at Queen’s College. She’s ranked high and if what happened last week happens next week, we will all be happy. She’s the fiercest competitor that gives it her all… I’m pulling for the three to do very well.”
Maycock emphasized that the goal of Blue Chip throwers is to never just make national teams, but to win at the highest level, break records and eventually earn collegiate scholarships.
The NCAA Track and Field Championships are set to begin today at 5:05 p.m. in Eugene, Oregon.
