The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

LAST week at the Fritz Grant Invitational, Ryan Ingraham was complaining of a groin injury. Over the weekend, he was delighted that it didn’t flare up again as he successfully defended his men’s high jump title at the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations BTC National Championships.

It was another showdown between the top four elite high flyers. “Just to get over this groin injury from last week is enough for me. I was doing treatment after treatment and I wasn’t jumping,” Ingraham said. “So I just had to come out here and give it my all and that was what I did.”

Preparing for his first appearance at the Commonwealth Games next month in Glasgow, Scotland, the 21-year-old Ingraham soared 2.28 metres or 7-feet, 5-inches and clinched his raised right hand as he leaped for joy in the bed to signify his victory that left Jamal Wilson and Donald Thomas tied for second at 2.24m (7-4 1/4).

Trevor Barry, making his return after an injury sidelined him last year, bowed out at 2.20m (7-2 1/2) after he was a little cautious with a groin injury and had to be checked out by the doctors on hand at the stadium.

“I came out here with a winning mind. I wasn’t going to lose. I wasn’t going to let no one beat me. I came out on top,” said Ingraham as he celebrated his victory. “I just wanted to prove to myself that I could do it. Now I just have to concentrate on the groin injury. It’s not quite healed yet. I thought I wasn’t able to jump, but the doctor told me that I could jump, so I just came out here and jumped.”

Expecting to lead the Bahamian delegation to Glasgow on the field, Thomas said he expected the competition to be a lot tougher, but he will take the victory.

It seems as if all three of the top jumpers are going through their ordeals. Thomas said he was prepared to get an exemption from competing, but had a change of heart.

“The competition was alright. The same guys came out. I knew what I was dealing with, so it was a nice competition,” he said. “Right now, I’m currently banged up, so my objective was just to come out here and make the Commonwealth Games team. I just have to continue to do my rehab and get ready for the Commonwealth Games. I’m a little banged up, so I wanted to put in a medical request, but I didn’t want to put the decision in their hands, so I just came out here to battle and make the team and go from there.”

Either way, whether they all came healthy or not, Wilson said he was geared up to make a strong case for him to show off his skills and eventually earn his first trip to the games as well.

“The competition was great. These guys came out here and did what I expected them to do, clear the heights back-to-back early. It was an awesome competition. Everybody came out here and did what they had to do,” he said.

“I expected to jump a little higher, but I give all respect to God. I came out here and I did what I had to do and that was to make the Commonwealth Games. That’s another milestone in my career. Hopefully I can go there and win a medal.”

Also on the field, University of Arkansas standout Raymond Higgs didn’t have the type of performance he anticipated, but it was good enough for his win in the men’s long jump. His leap of 7.88m (25-10 1/4) was well ahead of fellow Olympian Leevan ‘Superman’ Sands.

In his comeback after undergoing surgery on his knee that he popped out of place at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, England, Sands did 7.51m (24-7 3/4) to show that he’s on the right track. LaQuan Nairn, the rising young multiple star, was third with 7.50m (24-7 1/4) as he qualified for the World Junior Championships.

“I felt good coming into the competition, but as the competition turned up, I really don’t know what happened. I have to go back to the drawing board. That was probably my second worst jump for the season. I have one more meet at Commonwealth. I hope to go there and do something,” Higgs said. “The crowd was good. We was jumping into a head wind. It was just one of those days.

I have to work on my approach and getting on top of the board. If I can do that, I just be able to do better. I have a lot of stuff to work on. I have three weeks to get it together.”

Sands said he’s not quite ready to compete in his specialty in the triple jump. He opted not to enter the event on Sunday. The event featured one half of the dynamic twin brothers, Lathone Collie-Minns anmd collegian Cameron Parker. No results, however, were available.

In other field events of note for the men, Elliston Greenslade took the under-20 boys high jump with 1.90m (6-2 3/4) over DeVontee Gibson, who cleared 1.85m (6-0 3/4).

Ken Mullings took the under-17 boy’s high jump with 2.00m (6-6 3/4), followed by Livingston Bromwell with 1.96m (6-5). Aaron Ross Jr was third with 1.85m (6-0 3/4).

The boys under-20 long jump was won by Oral Rolle with 6.82m (22-4 1/2). Joshua Russell was second with 6.64m (21-9 1/2). Talbot McKinney was third with 6.42m (21-0 3/4).

And in the under-18 boys long jump, Holland Martin was the lone competitor, clearing 6.51m (21-4 1/4).