The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Seenior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunmedia.net

‘Golden Girl’ Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie knew that if anyone was going to break her 16-year-old Bahamas national 200 metre record, it would have been rising international star Shaunae Miller. When she heard the news on Saturday that Miller finally eclipsed her mark of 22.19 seconds that she ran on July 3, 1999 in Paris, France, Ferguson-McKenzie said she wasn’t surprised at all.

In the Jamaica Invitational meet at the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica, Miller ran away from a talented field to snatch the women’s 200 metres title in a world-leading time of 22.14 seconds, tying the meet record that was set by Jamaican Sherone Simpson in 2006. Simpson, by the way, was in the race, finishing fourth in 22.64.

Trailing Miller in the top three spots were American Tori Bowie in 22.29 and Jamaican Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in 22.37. American Shalonda Solomon rounded out the field in 22.71 for fifth.

While Miller was unavailable for comments, Ferguson-McKenzie said the record could not have gone to a more deserving athlete.

“I would like to send congratulations out to Shaunae for a job well done. I heard of the results as I was unable to locate the link to view the Jamaican invite,” Ferguson-McKenzie told The Tribune. “I knew it was a matter of time. She broke the CARIFTA record and won medals at the Junior Olympics. Signs of greatness to come. With that leg speed it’s only a matter of time before she takes the 400m record.

“This is a milestone in Bahamian history and only a peek of what’s to come. Records are truly meant to be broken and I pray she serves as an example for the present youngsters and what they can achieve. We have a special group with Shaunae (Miller), Anthonique (Strachan), Sheniqua (Ferguson) and the list continues. Continue to make history and breaking records. Encouraging Anthonique, Sheniqua and others to follow pursuit and get it done. I am proud to be Bahamian and will live to see the first female athlete to run 21. And 48. Forward, upward onward, together. Represent well. Golden girls part two. Stay tuned.”

Miller, the towering six-foot, two-inch former world youth and world junior 400m champion, improved on her previous season best of 22.50 that she ran on April 18 in Clermont, Florida, the same weekend that American Jenna Prandini clocked 22.42 in Walnut, California to sit on the top of the world chart.

Almost a month later, Miller not only moved back up the list, but she pulled the next two finishers as they now coccupy the top three spots.

The professional athlete who specialises in the 400m was one of two Bahamians to compete in the one-day meet that came a week after she ran a sensational come-from-behind anchor leg on the Bahamas’ disqualified 4 x 200m team of Ferguson, 16-year-old Brianne Bethel from Grand Bahama and Strachan at the IAAF/BTC World Relays Bahamas 2015 at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium.

Also at the meet was national 400m hurdles record holder Jeffery Gibson, who was third in the men's 400m hurdles in 49.42sec. American Bershawn Jackson won the race in 48.47 and Jamaican Leford Green was second in 49.22.

In addition to her sensational time in the half-lap race over the weekend, Miller now sits third in the world standings in the one-lapper. She ran a then world leading 50.17 in Gainesville, Florida for one day on April 24. American Sanya Richards-Ross surged to the top of the chart on Saturday when she took the 400 title in Kingston in 49.95. Fellow American Francena McCorory had the previous world-leading time of 50.13 in Des Moines, Iowa to move ahead of Miller on April 25. McCorory trailed Richards-Ross in Jamaica in 50.73.

Many are looking forward to the showdown this year between Miller, the Americans and Jamaicans Stephanie Ann McPherson, Novlene Williams-Mills and Christine Day, along with Great Britain’s Christine Ohuruogu. Miller, who has competed at both the Olympic Games and the IAAF World Championships, is hoping to add to the bronze medal that she won last year at the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Sopot, Poland.

Miller, a graduate of St Augustine’s College and a former student of the University of Georgia, is the daughter of track coach Shaun Miller and BAAA executive Maybelene Miller. She turned 21 on April 15. She is now being coached by Lance Brauman of Pure Athletics.