It's meet week for Team NSAF, as they prepare to compete for the first time in the Bahamas at the Frederick Bastian Track and Field Classic at the Grand Bahama Sports Complex in Freeport on Saturday, June 2, 2018.

In early May, the NSAF announced its 28-member team of top prep track and field student-athletes (14 girls, 14 boys) to represent Team NSAF in this event, which is the continuation of what was originally the Caribbean Scholastic Invitational, launched by the NSAF in 2006. Top Junior and Youth athletes from throughout the Bahamas are expected to provide outstanding competition.

The roster is comprised of athletes from 13 different states: Alabama (3), Florida (3), Georgia (4), Illinois (2), Kansas (1), Maryland (1), North Carolina (3), Pennsylvania (1), South Carolina (1), Texas (6), Utah (1), Virginia (1) and Washington (1).

SEE FULL LIST and BIOs below | Team NSAF Boys Photo Page and Girls Photo Page | Team NSAF Staff Bios/Photos

With their state meet seasons having just finished, the squad have racked up 26 individual titles between them -- led by Utah quadruple gold medalist Meghan Hunter -- plus 27 more podium finishes! Several team members were New Balance Nationals Indoor All-Americans or at least finalists this past March, including Nick Ramey (400m runner-up), Kevin Synder (3rd TJ & LJ), Charles O. McBride (3rd HJ) and Chloe Lindeman (3rd shot put). Then there’s Titiana Marsh, who had two silver medals, a bronze and a 4th-place finish in the NBNI and NBNO LJ and TJ in 2017. She is the only senior on the team.

A big handful rank in the top 5-10 in the country in their events – or have in previous seasons – including indoor national leader Snyder (49-9 triple jump), Skylar Ciccolini (2nd JT), Sam Hankins (3rd JT), Hunter (3rd 400, 8th 800), Matthew Boling(4th 400m), Kailee Collins (4th 100m), Dominick Houston-Shephard (4th a-c 110H, 6th 300H), Ramey (5th 400m), Darci Khan (5th 100H), Tosin Alao (6th a-c triple jump) and Marsh (7th a-c triple jump).

Marsh and Ciccolini are part of two of the NSAF’s Elite Training Programs, with Marsh representing Project Triple Jump and Ciccolini with Project Javelin Gold.

The Caribbean Scholastic Invitational (CSI) was launched by the NSAF in 2006 to give elite high school athletes – mainly junior-class students – an international team competition and travel opportunity. The idea was to provide a “Team USA”-type environment, but in a low-pressure event, for those who have demonstrated the potential to make U.S. Junior, Youth or even Senior teams in the future – to compete in IAAF World U20 or Senior Championships, Pan American Championships and Olympic Games.

CSI was held by the NSAF in Puerto Rico from 2006-2013. In 2015, we were able to move the meet to Cuba, giving our squad the amazing bounty to be historic “athletic diplomats.” The first meet in Havana was essentially a NSAF-Cuba Junior/Youth dual meet. Then in 2016-17, Team NSAF competed as part of the Memorial Barrientos. But with the national stadium in Havana having undergone renovation this year, and the Memorial Barrientos meet now set for June 15-17 (same weekend as NBNO), Team NSAF will compete for the first time in the Bahamas.

Team NSAF will leave from Ft. Lauderdale to Freeport on May 31 and return June 3.  The NSAF staff for the event, serving as managers, coaches and other capacities, includes:

• COO Joy Kamani (Director and Team Manager)
• Coach Paul Limmer (NSAF Board Member)
• Coach Macka Jones (NSAF Project Triple Jump Coordinator)
• Miami Northwestern coach Carmen Jackson
• Sports Psychologist Dr. Margaret Ottley
• Director of Special Projects Kristi Reiger
• Medical Staff: Claudia “Sparky” Chapel, Performance Specialist, BCMT, ISP
• Medical Staff: Dr. Emily Krodel
• Medical Staff: Marissa Caldwell, AT.
• Director of Media and Public Relations Steve Underwood

For more on the background and history of CSI, go HERE.

Get full roster of Team NSAF athletes here.