Cara Saunders
Encyclopedia
Cara Veron Saunders (born February 10, 1984 in Freeport, Bahamas
) is a Bahamian
sprint
and long jump
athlete. She won two gold medals in the 100 meters and the long jump, respectively, and one silver medal in the 4 X 100 meter relay at the 2001 Junior Olympics in Orlando, Florida
, USA. Saunders was a member of the 2008 Bahamas Olympic Team as an alternate.
in Hastings, Nebraska
on an athletic scholarship in 2002. While at Hastings, Saunders excelled in the hurdles event, having placed in every competition. This honor earned her the distinction of becoming the first female athlete in Hastings Track and Field history to place in all participated hurdles events. She also out-shined opponents in the long jump, furthering her career wins with first place honors at the 2003 NAIA National Indoor Championships in Johnson City, Tennessee
.
She transferred after one year to Gardner-Webb University
in Boiling Springs, North Carolina
. After a disappointing 2004 campaign, she exploded in 2005, becoming a major contributor to the track and field team in the long jump and triple jump events. She completed her collegiate career in 2005.
Saunders graduated from Gardner-Webb University in 2006 with a Bachelor of Arts
degree in Sociology
.
Track and Field Assistant Coach Henry Rolle; Saunders continued her efforts to compete professionally in Nassau in the later of 2007 under the direction of Rolle. Rolle was responsible for spearheading the formation of the Junior Bahamas National Team from 1998-2002, from which two of those seasons Saunders competed and excelled.
The results of the trials concluded that Saunders would be named as an alternate for the team in the long jump because of her sixth place finish in the trails with a measure of 17’09’’. Saunders also finished ninth in the 400m relay with a time of 57.76. Although Saunders’ goal was to qualify for the much anticipated 4x100m relay squad as the realm was her forte during her junior national competition days as well as during collegiate competition, Saunders’ finish placed her in eight behind the eventual team made up of Debbie Ferguson
, Shandria Brown
, Chandra Sturrup
, and Timicka Clarke
.
Ultimately, Saunders alternate position in the long jump would not be needed, as Team Bahamas did not qualify for the final medal standings in the long jump during the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing
.
Cara Veron Saunders (born February 10, 1984 in Freeport, Bahamas
) is a Bahamian
sprint
and long jump
athlete. She won two gold medals in the 100 meters and the long jump, respectively, and one silver medal in the 4 X 100 meter relay at the 2001 Junior Olympics in Orlando, Florida
, USA. Saunders was a member of the 2008 Bahamas Olympic Team as an alternate.
in Hastings, Nebraska
on an athletic scholarship in 2002. While at Hastings, Saunders excelled in the hurdles event, having placed in every competition. This honor earned her the distinction of becoming the first female athlete in Hastings Track and Field history to place in all participated hurdles events. She also out-shined opponents in the long jump, furthering her career wins with first place honors at the 2003 NAIA National Indoor Championships in Johnson City, Tennessee
.
She transferred after one year to Gardner-Webb University
in Boiling Springs, North Carolina
. After a disappointing 2004 campaign, she exploded in 2005, becoming a major contributor to the track and field team in the long jump and triple jump events. She completed her collegiate career in 2005.
Saunders graduated from Gardner-Webb University in 2006 with a Bachelor of Arts
degree in Sociology
.
Track and Field Assistant Coach Henry Rolle; Saunders continued her efforts to compete professionally in Nassau in the later of 2007 under the direction of Rolle. Rolle was responsible for spearheading the formation of the Junior Bahamas National Team from 1998-2002, from which two of those seasons Saunders competed and excelled.
The results of the trials concluded that Saunders would be named as an alternate for the team in the long jump because of her sixth place finish in the trails with a measure of 17’09’’. Saunders also finished ninth in the 400m relay with a time of 57.76. Although Saunders’ goal was to qualify for the much anticipated 4x100m relay squad as the realm was her forte during her junior national competition days as well as during collegiate competition, Saunders’ finish placed her in eight behind the eventual team made up of Debbie Ferguson
, Shandria Brown
, Chandra Sturrup
, and Timicka Clarke
.
Ultimately, Saunders alternate position in the long jump would not be needed, as Team Bahamas did not qualify for the final medal standings in the long jump during the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing
.
Cara Veron Saunders (born February 10, 1984 in Freeport, Bahamas
) is a Bahamian
sprint
and long jump
athlete. She won two gold medals in the 100 meters and the long jump, respectively, and one silver medal in the 4 X 100 meter relay at the 2001 Junior Olympics in Orlando, Florida
, USA. Saunders was a member of the 2008 Bahamas Olympic Team as an alternate.
in Hastings, Nebraska
on an athletic scholarship in 2002. While at Hastings, Saunders excelled in the hurdles event, having placed in every competition. This honor earned her the distinction of becoming the first female athlete in Hastings Track and Field history to place in all participated hurdles events. She also out-shined opponents in the long jump, furthering her career wins with first place honors at the 2003 NAIA National Indoor Championships in Johnson City, Tennessee
.
She transferred after one year to Gardner-Webb University
in Boiling Springs, North Carolina
. After a disappointing 2004 campaign, she exploded in 2005, becoming a major contributor to the track and field team in the long jump and triple jump events. She completed her collegiate career in 2005.
Saunders graduated from Gardner-Webb University in 2006 with a Bachelor of Arts
degree in Sociology
.
Track and Field Assistant Coach Henry Rolle; Saunders continued her efforts to compete professionally in Nassau in the later of 2007 under the direction of Rolle. Rolle was responsible for spearheading the formation of the Junior Bahamas National Team from 1998-2002, from which two of those seasons Saunders competed and excelled.
The results of the trials concluded that Saunders would be named as an alternate for the team in the long jump because of her sixth place finish in the trails with a measure of 17’09’’. Saunders also finished ninth in the 400m relay with a time of 57.76. Although Saunders’ goal was to qualify for the much anticipated 4x100m relay squad as the realm was her forte during her junior national competition days as well as during collegiate competition, Saunders’ finish placed her in eight behind the eventual team made up of Debbie Ferguson
, Shandria Brown
, Chandra Sturrup
, and Timicka Clarke
.
Ultimately, Saunders alternate position in the long jump would not be needed, as Team Bahamas did not qualify for the final medal standings in the long jump during the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing
.
Freeport, Bahamas
Freeport is a city, district and free trade zone located on the island of Grand Bahama of the North-west Bahamas. In 1955, Wallace Groves, a Virginian financier with lumber interests in Grand Bahama, was granted 50,000 acres Freeport is a city, district and free trade zone located on the island of...
) is a Bahamian
The Bahamas
The Bahamas , officially the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, is a nation consisting of 29 islands, 661 cays, and 2,387 islets . It is located in the Atlantic Ocean north of Cuba and Hispaniola , northwest of the Turks and Caicos Islands, and southeast of the United States...
sprint
Sprint (race)
Sprints are short running events in athletics and track and field. Races over short distances are among the oldest running competitions. The first 13 editions of the Ancient Olympic Games featured only one event—the stadion race, which was a race from one end of the stadium to the other...
and long jump
Long jump
The long jump is a track and field event in which athletes combine speed, strength, and agility in an attempt to leap as far as possible from a take off point...
athlete. She won two gold medals in the 100 meters and the long jump, respectively, and one silver medal in the 4 X 100 meter relay at the 2001 Junior Olympics in Orlando, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
, USA. Saunders was a member of the 2008 Bahamas Olympic Team as an alternate.
College
Saunders attended Hastings CollegeHastings College
Hastings College is a private, undergraduate, four-year, residential liberal arts college in Hastings, Nebraska, USA.- History :The college was founded in 1882 by a group of men and women seeking to establish a Presbyterian college dedicated to high academic and cultural standards...
in Hastings, Nebraska
Hastings, Nebraska
Hastings is a city in and the county seat of Adams County, Nebraska, United States. It is the principal city of the Hastings, Nebraska Micropolitan Statistical Area, which consists of Adams and Clay counties. The population was 24,907 at the 2010 census...
on an athletic scholarship in 2002. While at Hastings, Saunders excelled in the hurdles event, having placed in every competition. This honor earned her the distinction of becoming the first female athlete in Hastings Track and Field history to place in all participated hurdles events. She also out-shined opponents in the long jump, furthering her career wins with first place honors at the 2003 NAIA National Indoor Championships in Johnson City, Tennessee
Johnson City, Tennessee
Johnson City is a city in Carter, Sullivan, and Washington counties in the U.S. state of Tennessee, with most of the city being in Washington County...
.
She transferred after one year to Gardner-Webb University
Gardner-Webb University
Gardner–Webb University is a private university located west of Charlotte in Boiling Springs, North Carolina, USA. The school has a total of 14 academic departments offering 45 major fields of study. Among the most popular of the school's 39 undergraduate majors are those in business , education ,...
in Boiling Springs, North Carolina
Boiling Springs, North Carolina
Boiling Springs is a town in Cleveland County, North Carolina, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the town population was 4,647. It is home to Gardner-Webb University. The Broad River runs along the south of the township, where the Broad River Greenway is located, providing recreational...
. After a disappointing 2004 campaign, she exploded in 2005, becoming a major contributor to the track and field team in the long jump and triple jump events. She completed her collegiate career in 2005.
Saunders graduated from Gardner-Webb University in 2006 with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in Sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
.
Professional
On June 27, 2008, Saunders was named as an alternate to the 2008 Bahamas Olympic Team after an unparalleled effort at the trials held at Thomas Robinson Stadium in Nassau, Bahamas. Saunders, who last competed in 2005, resumed physical training in the spring of 2007 in Atlanta, Georgia under renowned Auburn UniversityAuburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
Track and Field Assistant Coach Henry Rolle; Saunders continued her efforts to compete professionally in Nassau in the later of 2007 under the direction of Rolle. Rolle was responsible for spearheading the formation of the Junior Bahamas National Team from 1998-2002, from which two of those seasons Saunders competed and excelled.
The results of the trials concluded that Saunders would be named as an alternate for the team in the long jump because of her sixth place finish in the trails with a measure of 17’09’’. Saunders also finished ninth in the 400m relay with a time of 57.76. Although Saunders’ goal was to qualify for the much anticipated 4x100m relay squad as the realm was her forte during her junior national competition days as well as during collegiate competition, Saunders’ finish placed her in eight behind the eventual team made up of Debbie Ferguson
Debbie Ferguson
Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie is a Bahamian sprint athlete who specialises in the 100 and 200 metres. She had her first major successes with the Bahamian 4×100 metres relay team, winning gold at the Pan American Games and World Championships in Athletics in 1999, and taking another gold at the Olympic...
, Shandria Brown
Shandria Brown
Shandria Brown is a Bahamian sprinter who specializes in the 200 metres. Her personal best time is 23.27 seconds, achieved in May 2003 in Edwardsville....
, Chandra Sturrup
Chandra Sturrup
Chandra Sturrup is a Bahamian track and field sprint athlete. She is a 100 m specialist and the Bahamian national record holder for the women's 100 meter dash with a personal best of 10.84 seconds set in Lausanne, Switzerland on July 5, 2005...
, and Timicka Clarke
Timicka Clarke
Timicka Clarke is a Bahamian sprinter who specializes in the 100 metres. Her personal best time is 11.33 seconds, achieved in July 2003 in St...
.
Ultimately, Saunders alternate position in the long jump would not be needed, as Team Bahamas did not qualify for the final medal standings in the long jump during the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
.
Personal
- Son, Malachi Adriel born on April 8, 2006.
- Currently resides in both Nassau, Bahamas and West Palm Beach, Florida.
- Became a United States citizen in July 2006.
- Father is an Anglican priest.
- Is the eldest of three children.
- Sister, Candawn, was a swimmer for the Junior National Team (Bahamas) but now has a passion for dance and soccer.
- Brother, Cameron, is an assistant coach for the Junior National Soccer Team (Bahamas).
- Is gifted in the arts, having a passion for poetry, writing, photography, and painting.
- Inducted into Mount Carmel Preparatory Academy's, her alma mater, Hall of Fame in recognition of academics, athletics, and community involvement, in 2005.
Cara Veron Saunders (born February 10, 1984 in Freeport, Bahamas
Freeport, Bahamas
Freeport is a city, district and free trade zone located on the island of Grand Bahama of the North-west Bahamas. In 1955, Wallace Groves, a Virginian financier with lumber interests in Grand Bahama, was granted 50,000 acres Freeport is a city, district and free trade zone located on the island of...
) is a Bahamian
The Bahamas
The Bahamas , officially the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, is a nation consisting of 29 islands, 661 cays, and 2,387 islets . It is located in the Atlantic Ocean north of Cuba and Hispaniola , northwest of the Turks and Caicos Islands, and southeast of the United States...
sprint
Sprint (race)
Sprints are short running events in athletics and track and field. Races over short distances are among the oldest running competitions. The first 13 editions of the Ancient Olympic Games featured only one event—the stadion race, which was a race from one end of the stadium to the other...
and long jump
Long jump
The long jump is a track and field event in which athletes combine speed, strength, and agility in an attempt to leap as far as possible from a take off point...
athlete. She won two gold medals in the 100 meters and the long jump, respectively, and one silver medal in the 4 X 100 meter relay at the 2001 Junior Olympics in Orlando, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
, USA. Saunders was a member of the 2008 Bahamas Olympic Team as an alternate.
College
Saunders attended Hastings CollegeHastings College
Hastings College is a private, undergraduate, four-year, residential liberal arts college in Hastings, Nebraska, USA.- History :The college was founded in 1882 by a group of men and women seeking to establish a Presbyterian college dedicated to high academic and cultural standards...
in Hastings, Nebraska
Hastings, Nebraska
Hastings is a city in and the county seat of Adams County, Nebraska, United States. It is the principal city of the Hastings, Nebraska Micropolitan Statistical Area, which consists of Adams and Clay counties. The population was 24,907 at the 2010 census...
on an athletic scholarship in 2002. While at Hastings, Saunders excelled in the hurdles event, having placed in every competition. This honor earned her the distinction of becoming the first female athlete in Hastings Track and Field history to place in all participated hurdles events. She also out-shined opponents in the long jump, furthering her career wins with first place honors at the 2003 NAIA National Indoor Championships in Johnson City, Tennessee
Johnson City, Tennessee
Johnson City is a city in Carter, Sullivan, and Washington counties in the U.S. state of Tennessee, with most of the city being in Washington County...
.
She transferred after one year to Gardner-Webb University
Gardner-Webb University
Gardner–Webb University is a private university located west of Charlotte in Boiling Springs, North Carolina, USA. The school has a total of 14 academic departments offering 45 major fields of study. Among the most popular of the school's 39 undergraduate majors are those in business , education ,...
in Boiling Springs, North Carolina
Boiling Springs, North Carolina
Boiling Springs is a town in Cleveland County, North Carolina, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the town population was 4,647. It is home to Gardner-Webb University. The Broad River runs along the south of the township, where the Broad River Greenway is located, providing recreational...
. After a disappointing 2004 campaign, she exploded in 2005, becoming a major contributor to the track and field team in the long jump and triple jump events. She completed her collegiate career in 2005.
Saunders graduated from Gardner-Webb University in 2006 with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in Sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
.
Professional
On June 27, 2008, Saunders was named as an alternate to the 2008 Bahamas Olympic Team after an unparalleled effort at the trials held at Thomas Robinson Stadium in Nassau, Bahamas. Saunders, who last competed in 2005, resumed physical training in the spring of 2007 in Atlanta, Georgia under renowned Auburn UniversityAuburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
Track and Field Assistant Coach Henry Rolle; Saunders continued her efforts to compete professionally in Nassau in the later of 2007 under the direction of Rolle. Rolle was responsible for spearheading the formation of the Junior Bahamas National Team from 1998-2002, from which two of those seasons Saunders competed and excelled.
The results of the trials concluded that Saunders would be named as an alternate for the team in the long jump because of her sixth place finish in the trails with a measure of 17’09’’. Saunders also finished ninth in the 400m relay with a time of 57.76. Although Saunders’ goal was to qualify for the much anticipated 4x100m relay squad as the realm was her forte during her junior national competition days as well as during collegiate competition, Saunders’ finish placed her in eight behind the eventual team made up of Debbie Ferguson
Debbie Ferguson
Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie is a Bahamian sprint athlete who specialises in the 100 and 200 metres. She had her first major successes with the Bahamian 4×100 metres relay team, winning gold at the Pan American Games and World Championships in Athletics in 1999, and taking another gold at the Olympic...
, Shandria Brown
Shandria Brown
Shandria Brown is a Bahamian sprinter who specializes in the 200 metres. Her personal best time is 23.27 seconds, achieved in May 2003 in Edwardsville....
, Chandra Sturrup
Chandra Sturrup
Chandra Sturrup is a Bahamian track and field sprint athlete. She is a 100 m specialist and the Bahamian national record holder for the women's 100 meter dash with a personal best of 10.84 seconds set in Lausanne, Switzerland on July 5, 2005...
, and Timicka Clarke
Timicka Clarke
Timicka Clarke is a Bahamian sprinter who specializes in the 100 metres. Her personal best time is 11.33 seconds, achieved in July 2003 in St...
.
Ultimately, Saunders alternate position in the long jump would not be needed, as Team Bahamas did not qualify for the final medal standings in the long jump during the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
.
Personal
- Son, Malachi Adriel born on April 8, 2006.
- Currently resides in both Nassau, Bahamas and West Palm Beach, Florida.
- Became a United States citizen in July 2006.
- Father is an Anglican priest.
- Is the eldest of three children.
- Sister, Candawn, was a swimmer for the Junior National Team (Bahamas) but now has a passion for dance and soccer.
- Brother, Cameron, is an assistant coach for the Junior National Soccer Team (Bahamas).
- Is gifted in the arts, having a passion for poetry, writing, photography, and painting.
- Inducted into Mount Carmel Preparatory Academy's, her alma mater, Hall of Fame in recognition of academics, athletics, and community involvement, in 2005.
Cara Veron Saunders (born February 10, 1984 in Freeport, Bahamas
Freeport, Bahamas
Freeport is a city, district and free trade zone located on the island of Grand Bahama of the North-west Bahamas. In 1955, Wallace Groves, a Virginian financier with lumber interests in Grand Bahama, was granted 50,000 acres Freeport is a city, district and free trade zone located on the island of...
) is a Bahamian
The Bahamas
The Bahamas , officially the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, is a nation consisting of 29 islands, 661 cays, and 2,387 islets . It is located in the Atlantic Ocean north of Cuba and Hispaniola , northwest of the Turks and Caicos Islands, and southeast of the United States...
sprint
Sprint (race)
Sprints are short running events in athletics and track and field. Races over short distances are among the oldest running competitions. The first 13 editions of the Ancient Olympic Games featured only one event—the stadion race, which was a race from one end of the stadium to the other...
and long jump
Long jump
The long jump is a track and field event in which athletes combine speed, strength, and agility in an attempt to leap as far as possible from a take off point...
athlete. She won two gold medals in the 100 meters and the long jump, respectively, and one silver medal in the 4 X 100 meter relay at the 2001 Junior Olympics in Orlando, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
, USA. Saunders was a member of the 2008 Bahamas Olympic Team as an alternate.
College
Saunders attended Hastings CollegeHastings College
Hastings College is a private, undergraduate, four-year, residential liberal arts college in Hastings, Nebraska, USA.- History :The college was founded in 1882 by a group of men and women seeking to establish a Presbyterian college dedicated to high academic and cultural standards...
in Hastings, Nebraska
Hastings, Nebraska
Hastings is a city in and the county seat of Adams County, Nebraska, United States. It is the principal city of the Hastings, Nebraska Micropolitan Statistical Area, which consists of Adams and Clay counties. The population was 24,907 at the 2010 census...
on an athletic scholarship in 2002. While at Hastings, Saunders excelled in the hurdles event, having placed in every competition. This honor earned her the distinction of becoming the first female athlete in Hastings Track and Field history to place in all participated hurdles events. She also out-shined opponents in the long jump, furthering her career wins with first place honors at the 2003 NAIA National Indoor Championships in Johnson City, Tennessee
Johnson City, Tennessee
Johnson City is a city in Carter, Sullivan, and Washington counties in the U.S. state of Tennessee, with most of the city being in Washington County...
.
She transferred after one year to Gardner-Webb University
Gardner-Webb University
Gardner–Webb University is a private university located west of Charlotte in Boiling Springs, North Carolina, USA. The school has a total of 14 academic departments offering 45 major fields of study. Among the most popular of the school's 39 undergraduate majors are those in business , education ,...
in Boiling Springs, North Carolina
Boiling Springs, North Carolina
Boiling Springs is a town in Cleveland County, North Carolina, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the town population was 4,647. It is home to Gardner-Webb University. The Broad River runs along the south of the township, where the Broad River Greenway is located, providing recreational...
. After a disappointing 2004 campaign, she exploded in 2005, becoming a major contributor to the track and field team in the long jump and triple jump events. She completed her collegiate career in 2005.
Saunders graduated from Gardner-Webb University in 2006 with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in Sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
.
Professional
On June 27, 2008, Saunders was named as an alternate to the 2008 Bahamas Olympic Team after an unparalleled effort at the trials held at Thomas Robinson Stadium in Nassau, Bahamas. Saunders, who last competed in 2005, resumed physical training in the spring of 2007 in Atlanta, Georgia under renowned Auburn UniversityAuburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
Track and Field Assistant Coach Henry Rolle; Saunders continued her efforts to compete professionally in Nassau in the later of 2007 under the direction of Rolle. Rolle was responsible for spearheading the formation of the Junior Bahamas National Team from 1998-2002, from which two of those seasons Saunders competed and excelled.
The results of the trials concluded that Saunders would be named as an alternate for the team in the long jump because of her sixth place finish in the trails with a measure of 17’09’’. Saunders also finished ninth in the 400m relay with a time of 57.76. Although Saunders’ goal was to qualify for the much anticipated 4x100m relay squad as the realm was her forte during her junior national competition days as well as during collegiate competition, Saunders’ finish placed her in eight behind the eventual team made up of Debbie Ferguson
Debbie Ferguson
Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie is a Bahamian sprint athlete who specialises in the 100 and 200 metres. She had her first major successes with the Bahamian 4×100 metres relay team, winning gold at the Pan American Games and World Championships in Athletics in 1999, and taking another gold at the Olympic...
, Shandria Brown
Shandria Brown
Shandria Brown is a Bahamian sprinter who specializes in the 200 metres. Her personal best time is 23.27 seconds, achieved in May 2003 in Edwardsville....
, Chandra Sturrup
Chandra Sturrup
Chandra Sturrup is a Bahamian track and field sprint athlete. She is a 100 m specialist and the Bahamian national record holder for the women's 100 meter dash with a personal best of 10.84 seconds set in Lausanne, Switzerland on July 5, 2005...
, and Timicka Clarke
Timicka Clarke
Timicka Clarke is a Bahamian sprinter who specializes in the 100 metres. Her personal best time is 11.33 seconds, achieved in July 2003 in St...
.
Ultimately, Saunders alternate position in the long jump would not be needed, as Team Bahamas did not qualify for the final medal standings in the long jump during the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
.
Personal
- Son, Malachi Adriel born on April 8, 2006.
- Currently resides in both Nassau, Bahamas and West Palm Beach, Florida.
- Became a United States citizen in July 2006.
- Father is an Anglican priest.
- Is the eldest of three children.
- Sister, Candawn, was a swimmer for the Junior National Team (Bahamas) but now has a passion for dance and soccer.
- Brother, Cameron, is an assistant coach for the Junior National Soccer Team (Bahamas).
- Is gifted in the arts, having a passion for poetry, writing, photography, and painting.
- Inducted into Mount Carmel Preparatory Academy's, her alma mater, Hall of Fame in recognition of academics, athletics, and community involvement, in 2005.