Freddie Evans was voted in as president of the Bermuda National Athletics Association on Thursday night, succeeding Donna Raynor who stood down after 12 years at the helm.

Evans, who previously served as general secretary of the BNAA, ran unopposed for the post.

In his outreach to the BNAA affiliates, Evans introduced a theme of “Growing together for Athletic Excellence”. He insists that it is not a slogan, but the way he expects to lead inclusively.

“It also speaks to the development of relationships of parents, coaches, administrators, athletes and professionals who are proactive, positive and willing to work collaboratively to support all aspects of track and field in Bermuda,” the BNAA said.

Evans outlined the aim of the association is to foster and support outstanding athletes, to encourage them to continue in the sport and to represent Bermuda in international competitions.

He also encouraged increased participation in all aspects of the sport and aimed to promote the development of track and field.

As well, he plans to seek increased sponsorship for track and field and to provide technical and administrative leadership and direction to all elements of the sport.

Evans has contributed extensively to the Bermuda sports community in basketball, football and golf.

In basketball, he was involved in the development of Small Fry Basketball, a league for nine to 12-year-olds.

He was also active in the Freddie Evans Basketball Camp, which featured NBA and NCAA players as well as international and local coaches.

Evans also organised the first NCAA Division One basketball game in Bermuda between American University and the University of Delaware.

He is also a former president of the Bermuda Basketball Association.

In football, he was a member of the organising committee for the annual Kappa Classic, the largest youth football tournament in Bermuda. He is a life member of Kappa Alpha Psi.

He is a trustee of Ocean View Golf Club and a member of the Bermuda Golf Association.

Evans said he is excited and appreciative of the newly elected board members who will implement his vision.They include Mia Bean who was returned to the post of vice-president, having first been elected as a director in 2014 and then as vice-president under Raynor in 2016.

In 2020, Bean was appointed to the position of general secretary of the board when the position became vacant.

In her full-time occupation, she works as a probation officer for the Department of Court Services.

Bean has also served as a team manager for Carifta and World Championships and as Chef de Mission for the Youth Commonwealth Games team.

Also returning to the board are Jarita Vickers and Terry-Lynn Paynter while Allison Outerbridge and Vanessa Turner are new appointments.

Vickers, a former track and field athlete herself and a former Bermuda national coach of middle-distance runners, made a natural transition towards serving as a BNAA board of director.

Vickers has served on the board as treasurer for the past three years and brings more than 15 years of experience in financial accounting and reporting to the post.

Paynter is well known within local sport, having served Bermuda in athletics, cricket and football.

In track and field she is involved in coaching the throwing athletes and has served as a director of the BNAA for the last four years.

Outerbridge, a former long jumper, has been on the local track scene since she was nine years old, starting with the Bermuda Pacers before going on to represent Bermuda internationally.

She earned an athletic scholarship and competed for the University of Tennessee.

Turner, a local engineer, has served both within Government and the private sector. She possesses a thorough understanding of project management and has led teams of consultants on various projects throughout the island.

As a sportswoman, Turner was part of Bermuda’s first women’s national rugby team and is now the parent of a young, aspiring athlete.