Bermuda athletics coach upbeat

Athletics coach Tony Bean is confident that his track and field team will do Bermuda proud in the upcoming Natwest Island Games.

Despite a few top Bermudian athletes, most notably Tyrone Smith, being unable to compete at this year’s event on home soil, coach Bean is optimistic about his team’s chances. 

 He told the Bermuda Sun: “I think we stack up pretty good with the team that we have this year.

“Even though many of the athletes are competing elsewhere we shall do well anyway since we have a much larger athletics team than usual.”

Coach Bean is excited about the opportunity his athletes have to represent Bermuda in front of their own fans and believes his athletes will do a better job coping with the weather. 

“I think the main advantage we have over the other teams travelling here is that we are use to competing in hot and humid conditions whereas the other countries are not,” he said.  “We will also have the local crowd for support of our athletes.”

Bermuda finished with only eight medals, none gold, in the last Island Games, but coach Bean has high hopes this time.

 He mentions Shianne Smith as having a great chance of doing well in this year’s 400m hurdles.

At the last Island Games she came second in that event, despite it being the first time she had run the distance in competition.

Other athletes to watch for include Tre Houston in the 100 and 200 metres.  Houston ran a 9.65 100m dash in the Carifta Games, although he was aided by a trailing wind that was over the official limit. 

Chris Estwanik, who holds the Bermuda marathon record after his superb run in this year’s Boston Marathon and his wife, Ashley Estwanik, should both be factors in their respective 5,000m and 10,000m events, provided Chris is able to fully heal from a knee injury sustained while training for the May 24 half-marathon.

Overall, coach Bean stressed that the main goal was for his athletes to compete and have fun.  He said: “The main thing is that the athletes go out and run and have fun. 

“I want the athletes to go out and do their best that they can do and if it gets them a medal then the better for Bermuda.  

“Overall I think they will all do Bermuda proud.”