Taken from The (Nassau) Tribune and Maverick Athletes News

The Paris Olympics are now history. While the first three Mavericks to compete in Olympic track and field events didn’t reach the medal podium, their forever title as “Olympic Athlete” exemplifies what’s possible when channeling talent, training and dedicated perseverance.

Racing for The Bahamas in the women’s 100 meter hurdles, Denisha Cartwright, the 2024 NCAA D2 Honda Woman Athlete of the Year and the Mavericks’ winningest student-athlete, was on the cusp of qualifying when she clipped the second hurdle after jumping out to an early lead in the reperchage round.

Current Maverick Jabez Reeves, who won the 100 and 200 meter dash events at this year’s NSIC Outdoor Championships, ran the first leg for Team Liberia in the men’s 4×100 meter relay. He handed off the baton to former Maverick Emmanuel Matadi. Liberia finished heat 2 in seventh place with a time of 38.97.

Matadi, who holds the Liberian national record. 9.91, in the 100 meter dash, competed for MSU track and field in 2014-15 and made appearances in three Olympic Games, including 2016 Rio De Janeiro and 2020 Tokyo. He advanced to the semifinals in the 100m event at the Paris Olympics where he finished eighth in semifinal No. 2.

Mario Bowleg, The Bahamas Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, perhaps said it best as the country welcomed home its Olympic Athletes. Women’s hurdler Devynne Charlton was the only Bahamian to advance to the finals.

“Her remarkable performance in the women’s 100m hurdles, where she finished sixth overall, is a source of pride for all of us. Devynne was joined by two other exceptional Bahamian women in this event – Charisma Taylor, who reached the semifinals, and Denisha Cartwright, a promising young talent with a bright future ahead.”

He went on to stress that becoming an Olympic athlete is a monumental accomplishment.

“While winning medals is often seen as the pinnacle of success, it’s crucial to recognize that qualifying for the Olympics is an extraordinary achievement in itself,” he stated. “Only a small percentage of athletes worldwide earn the chance to compete on this prestigious stage. It reflects years of grit, sweat, hard work, and relentless training.”

For aspiring Mavericks, the inspiration of these Olympic forerunners sets the bar for wearing their country’s colors on the global stage.