The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

QUARTERMILER Wesley Neymour and high jumper Ryan Ingraham both took advantage of their season debut by posting victories in their specialties in the Miami Invitational at University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida, over the weekend.

Neymour, competing unattached, clocked 46.94 seconds to take the men’s one-lap race ahead of Paul McPherson, who ran 47.52 for second.

Ingraham, representing Puma, took the men’s high jump with a leap of 2.20 metres or 7-feet, 2 1/2-inches, well ahead of John-Patrick Friday, a freshman from the University of Miami, who did 1.98m or 6-6.

For Neymour, the performance was a satisfactory one, considering that he had to run into a head-wind.

“Last year I opened up with a 47, so I ran a 46 in a head-wind,” he said. “It shows that I’m on track to running very well this year. So it’s a good step in the right direction.”

As the season progresses, Neymour said he anticipates that he will only get to run faster. He is expected to compete in his next meet on April 6 in Gainsville, Florida, where he’s hoping that the weather will be much different.

His coach Rupert Gardiner, who accompanied him to the meet, said it was a good measuring stick.

“We’re looking at the Florida Relays next week in Gainsville. Hopefully he will get to run at least 45,” he said. “We have some other meets lined up before nationals, but I was pleased with what he did in this meet. He had a head-wind that he ran into, so it was rough. But I think he did a good job.”

For Ingraham, the competition was a little different. He missed the competition and had to compete by himself at the end of the event. But he said he looked at it as a practice session.

“They switched the schedule and they couldn’t contact us in time to let us know, so I had to jump after the competition was over,” said Ingraham, who was accompanied by coach James Rolle.

“I still ended up winning, so I was pretty satisfied. I didn’t have the competition. It was just me one jumping, so I was pleased. The meet was still going on, but I just had to compete after the event.”

And did it have any effect on his performance?

“I’m used to it. I train by myself. I was born by myself, so basically when I jump against competition, it’s like they are not there,” he said. “So I wasn’t concerned about it.”

Based on his performance, Ingraham said he’s right where he wants to be at this point in the season and by the time the first Chris Brown Invitational is held on April 13 at the new Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium, he intends to be ready.

“I know that Trevor (Bary) and Donald (Thomas) will be coming (to compete),” Ingraham said. “I am looking forward to seeing them. I just want to let them know that I’m still here. It’s going to be a lot of fun. I just want to compete.”

The duo were the only two Bahamians who competed in the meet.