Cara Saunders

Cara 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.

College

Saunders attended Hastings College 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.

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 University 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.

Personal

*Gave birth to son Malachi Adriel on April 8, 2006 in Shelby, North Carolina.
*Currently resides in both in 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. [Sands, Felicia. The Daugher of the Bahamas...And her Son. The Nassau Guardian, 2007. ] [Craton, Michael and Saunders, Gail. Islanders in the Stream: A History of the Bahamian People, Volume III. Athens: University of Georgia Press, 2007 ] [Virgin, Kingston. An Unfinished Purpose. The Freeport News, 2008]