The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

SPRINTER Anthonique Strachan’s post Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ 2014 BTC National Open Championships success got off to a pretty good start on the international scene. It wasn’t so for quarter-miler Demetrius Pinder.

Competing in her first meet in Europe, Strachan moved up to her specialty in the 200m at the Paris Diamond League meet where she placed third in 22.54. Blessing Okagbare of Nigeria won the race in 22.32 and American Allison Felix came in second in a season’s best of 22.34.

Pinder, meanwhile, participated in the Edmonton International Classic on Sunday in Canada where he had to settle for the eighth and final spot in the men’s 400m in 45.30. Pinder had a chance to test his hamstring after he opted out of running the final in the men’s 400 at the BAAA Nationals where he posted the fastest qualifying time. Winning the race was American LaShawn Merritt in 43.92. Merritt was coming off his loss to Grenada’s Kirani James, who lowered his national and the meet record in the world’s fastest time of 43.74. Merritt did 43.92.

In that race in Lausanne, Switzerland on Thursday, Chris ‘Fireman’ Brown was fourth in a season’s best of 44.59. The 35-year-old Brown didn’t participate in the BAAA Nationals because of a conflict in the schedule.

Brown only signed up for the 200m, which was moved to Sunday when the BAAA extended the meet to cover three days for the first time at the original Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium.

Brown was in town but had his ticket booked to leave town on Sunday, thinking that the meet would have been held on Friday and Saturday as was the case in the past.

Brown is scheduled to compete again on July 11 in Scotland at the Sainsbury’s Glasgow Grand Prix, which serves as a prelude to the 20th Commonwealth Games.

Strachan, Brown and Pinder were the only three to compete since the BAAA Nationals. They are now waiting on the announcement by the Bahamas Olympic Committee on the ratification of the team that will represent the Bahamas at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, July 23 to August 3.

The BOC is expected to name the team on Tuesday. It’s expected to include competitors from track and field, swimming, boxing, cycling, judo and wrestling.