The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia,net

JEFFERY Gibson, shaking off his disappointing anchor leg on the men’s 4 x 400 metre relay at the Pan Am Games, and Steven Gardiner, continuing his red hot season, showed that they are still in great form and eager to head to Beijing, China, for the IAAF World Championships later this month.

The two national record holders in their respective events were two of three Bahamians competing at the American Track League at the Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, over the weekend. The other was sprinter Jamial Rolle, who contested the men’s 100m.

While Gibson, who turns 25 on August 15, held off an American field to win the men’s 400m hurdles in 48.72 seconds, 19-year-old Gardiner took the men’s 400m in 45.11 in a race that was stacked with American and Trinidad and Tobago athletes.

“It was a good meet. I always like the meets at the American Track League. New locations and good crowd environment always keep it interesting. The track was nice and the race felt effortless,” said Gibson, who held off second place finisher Michael Stiegler, who finished in 48.78 and Justin Gaymon, who was third in 49.59.

“With the crowd being so close and personable it reminds me of being in the Bahamas where the locals really are friendly with you. This is my third American track league meet.”

Coming off his gold medal performance in the men’s 400m at Pan Am, Gibson said he knew that the competition was going to be intense.

“I was really hoping that it was going to be an easy run but when I saw the big name athletes that were there I knew that I was going to have to run hard and fast if I wanted to come out with the win,” said Gibson, who has pushed his national record to 48.51 with his victory in Toronto.

With the disappointment of the 4 x 400m relay when he started to cramp up in the final 50 metres on the anchor leg when he slipped from first to fourth, Gardiner said he doesn’t intend to run again until the World Championships, scheduled for August 20-31 in Beijing.

“At this point I’m really happy. I see myself doing great work and producing good results at worlds. I have to thank God and my coaches for the work that they are putting in with me,” he said. “I’m beginning to run and hurdle better and I feel that I have so much more to give in this event. I’m optimistic and hopeful for the future.”

And when he goes to Beijing, Gibson said he would like nothing better than to get a spot in the final and add his third major international medal to go along with his Commonwealth Games bronze last year in Glasgow, Scotland.

“With God’s help, I know that I will be pushed to my limits and produce a stellar time and great results,” he said. “I’m looking forward to the challenge. I’m ready for my name to be said around the world and I’m ready to put my country on the map again.”

Still holding onto the two fastest times ran so far this year by any Bahamian - 44.27 and 44.30 - Gardiner said he was pleased with his performance heading into his World Championship debut. “I have been working hard doing a lot of quality running so that I will be ready come Beijing,” he said.

His time against the field over the weekend left him quite content. He won over Ashton Eaton, who came in second in 45.55 and Kyle Clemmons, who did 45.76 for third.

“It was as expected, good weather and great competition,” Gardiner said. “The weather was good for sprinting.”

Now his attention turns to Beijing where he will compete in his next meet at the Worlds.

As for his expectations there: “Advance through the rounds, then make it to the podium,” he said.

The ‘Boy Wonder’ native from Abaco will be well-tested as he competes in his first major global meet on the senior circuit after he switched from the 200m when he represented the Bahamas at the IAAF World Jr Championships in Eugene, Oregon, last year. He failed to advance out of the semi-final.

In the men’s 100m, Jamial Rolle ran 10.77 for eighth place in his heat and 15th place overall in the preliminaries. He didn’t make the top eight for the final.