Bermuda's Donna Raynor is making her mark on the global stage, serving as one of the most powerful women in Caribbean track and field. Raynor, alongside Cydonie Mothersill of the Cayman Islands, is a member of the prestigious World Athletics Council.
Raynor, the former Bermuda National Athletics Association president, was elected to the council in a historic vote involving 214 countries. She recently attended her first Congress as a council member in Tokyo, where she has been fully immersed in meetings and discussions.
"A dream come true," Raynor posted on social media. "So honoured when I think back about being elected with 214 countries voting. A dream come true and now retired to focus on my passion."
Raynor will be joining www.islandstats.com to share more details about her journey and her new role in shaping the future of global athletics.
Monday, September 15, 2025
Bobb Reflects on Valuable World Championships Experience
IslandStats.com
Bermuda's Caitlin Bobb has shared her reflections after her debut at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, describing the experience as a crucial step in her development.
The 22-year-old sprinter, who was Bermuda's sole representative at the championships, competed in the Women's 400m heats. Running in Heat 3, she finished fifth with a time of 51.72 seconds, missing out on a qualifying spot for the semi-finals.
Bobb found herself in a challenging heat that included two-time Olympic champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, who went on to win the heat comfortably. Despite not advancing, her time placed her ahead of several other athletes and was an improvement on her recent 400m performance at the Junior Pan American Games in Paraguay.
"It was a great learning experience," said Bobb. "Lining up against athletes of that caliber shows you where you are and what you need to do to get to the next level. I'm taking a lot away from this and I'm confident it will help me a lot in the future."
Sunday, September 14, 2025
Bobb Gains Experience Against World's Best in Tokyo
BNAA President Evans & Bobb
IslandStats.com
Bermuda's Caitlin Bobb has completed her debut in the Women's 400m at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, gaining valuable experience competing against some of the world's top athletes.
Running in Heat 3, Bobb was in a formidable field that included two-time Olympic 400m hurdles champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone. The American superstar cruised to victory, winning the heat in 49.41 seconds to easily advance to the semi-finals.
Bobb finished fifth in her heat with a time of 51.72 seconds, missing out on a qualifying spot. Ireland's Sharlene Mawdsley, who finished just ahead of Bobb in fourth with a time of 51.04, advanced to the semi-finals as one of the fastest non-automatic qualifiers.
Thursday, September 11, 2025
Genetic Test 95% Complete at World Championships
IslandStats.com
World Athletics confirmed during its latest council meeting that 95% of the female athletes due to compete at the World Championships, which begin on Saturday in the Japanese capital, have completed the mandatory genetic test, a measure the organization is reintroducing at its events.
Bermuda’s Caitlyn Bobb is in Tokyo to compete in the Women’s 400m.
The announcement marked a milestone for the international federation, which in March formally approved the introduction of the SRY test as part of new regulations aimed at verifying athletes' biological sex in the context of women's competitions. At the end of July, World Athletics published the technical details of the procedure and made it known that compliance would be an indispensable requirement to compete in Tokyo. The September World Championships will thus be the first major global event under this regulatory framework.
In its report, the council specified that only the tests for the delegations from France and Norway remain to be completed, as well as for some athletes residing on French territory, where national legislation prohibits genetic analyses for non‑medical purposes. In these cases, the tests will be carried out in the Japanese capital itself before the start of the championships.
"This has been a whole sport response to a principle that we all fundamentally believe in, which is to protect the female category," said in Tokyo World Athletics President Sebastian Coe, who thanked the member federations for their cooperation in implementing the system. For the British official, this is a collective and necessary step to guarantee the integrity of the women's category.
To carry out the test, a buccal swab or a dried blood sample is required to detect the presence or absence of the SRY gene (Sex‑determining Region Y), which triggers male sexual development. In the federation's words about the genetic procedure, "The SRY test is extremely accurate and the risk of false negative or positive is extremely unlikely."
World Athletics also recalled that results may be appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The regulations also provide for penalties, namely that any athlete who refuses to undergo the test will be excluded from international competitions that count towards the world rankings, although they will have the option of taking part in alternative non‑official events.
Tuesday, August 26, 2025
Famous Reflects on Record-Breaking Season and Future
IslandStats.com
Bermudian high jumper Sakari Famous has been reflecting on her first season as a professional athlete, a campaign she described as a "really great foundation" for her career. The season was highlighted by a stunning national record and a return to the international stage.
"With just a few months of training, I was able to set a new national record, which felt like a surreal moment because I haven't really jumped that high in a few years," said Famous. Her new national record of 1.85m was set earlier in the year in Texas.
Famous also spoke of the value of competing at the NACAC Championships, where she represented Bermuda on the world stage. "It was also amazing because I got to compete with other high jumpers and represent my country," she added.
Looking ahead, Famous has her sights set on a move to Texas to train with Olympic-experienced coaches. "I'm moving to Texas to train with Olympic-experienced coaches, which will allow me to make any improvements not just in high jump technique but also being surrounded by Olympians and world-class athletes will help."
For now, with the season over, the focus is on rest and recovery. "It is time now for rest and recovery now that the season has arrived, but I will be getting ready for 2026," she concluded, with a clear focus on building on her recent success.
