The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

ABOUT 70 athletes from more than 16 countries came to town to participate in the second annual Blue Marlin Track Classic.

The meet, which served as the last chance for athletes to qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games, didn’t produce that many qualifiers.

But there were still some outstanding performances both from the local athletes and the international athletes in town from the Caribbean, United States, Liberia and Nigeria as they tried to get a spot in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

While the focus was on the Bahamian relay teams trying to secure one of the top 16 times in the world, the top individual performance came from Leevan ‘Superman’ Sands in the men’s triple jump.

Having already done the qualifying mark of 16.85m for Rio, the national champion posted a leap of 16.45 metres to win the event over Haiti’s Samyr Laine, who did 16.09m. Damon McLean from Jamaica was third with 16.07m.

“It was already. I was really hoping to go over 16.85 today,” Sands said. “Before the rain came, I was ready to rain. When the rain came, it hurt my vibe a little bit. I was also hoping that Samyr would have qualified today so he could push me, but he did well. He just flew in last night coming in from his grandfather’s funeral, so he was a little tired.

“I was hoping that some more people would have been here so I could really feed off the crowd. But my family was here. They came out to support, so I was really happy with that. I got the win. It doesn’t matter now. Rio is what’s next so I have to prepare for that. I thank God for bringing me back from the injury at the last Olympics to go to another Olympics.”

On the track, quarter-miler Michael Mathieu rebounded from a second place finish in the men’s 400m in 46.47 seconds behind Trinidad & Tobago’s Deon Lendore (45.56) to win the 200m in 20.53, just shy of the automatic time of 20.50 as he held off American John Lundy, who did 20.81.

“I was still a bit fatigue, but overall it was good,” said Mathieu about his performance. ”This was just my first 200 for the year, so it was good.

“I just have to wait to see whether or not I make the team. If I do, I know I’m feeling pretty good right now. I had a hip injury earlier this year, but now I’m feeling good. I’m getting over it. It was hampering me in the 400m, but I’m good right now.”

Although she went under the qualifying time of 13.00 in setting a new record in the women’s 100m hurdles in college, Pedrya Seymour suffered a spill during the NCAA Championships and that prevented her from competing in the nationals.

But she proved her fitness turning in the fastest qualifying time in 13.08. However, she didn’t come back for the final that was won by Jamaican Danielle Williams in 13.09 ahead of teammate Shermaine Williams, second in 13.12.

In the women’s triple jump, Tamara Myers needed to jump at least 14.15m, but her winning leap was just 13.62 metres with a wind reading of 2.5. Trinidad & Tobago’s Ayanna Alexander was second with 13.59m, followed by Ghana’s Nadia Eke with 13.57m.

American Cierra White, coming off a third place finish in the women’s 100m, ran 23.16 for the win in the 200m to go under the Olympic time of 23.20m. But she won’t be eligible as the American squad qualified during their trials in Oregon.

However, Sada Williams could earn her spot on the Barbadian team after she ran 23.18 for second place. Puerto Rico’s Carol Rodriguez fell short in taking third in 23.34.

Former quarter-miler turned meet director Demaris Cash said he wanted to allow athletes to get in one last chance to qualify for Rio. “We had the countries who responded by sending their athletes,” Cash said. “Unfortunately, we had some head wind and light rain, so I just want them to know that we appreciate them coming in and endorsing what we tried to do for the athletes.”

He said his committee is already looking at how they can make the meet even bigger and better when the third version is held next year.