The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

ON the day that the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations returned to Grand Bahama to host another version of its National Open Track and Field Championships, Jeffery Gibson picked up the biggest victory in a final.

But while a change in the schedule had the preliminaries of all three marquee track events from the 100-400 metres taking place on the same day, some of the more prominent athletes didn’t advance as the changing of the guard took form with some of the younger athletes advancing.

The night at the Grand Bahama Sports Complex was interrupted by the official opening ceremonies as BAAA president Rosamunde Carey welcomed the audience to what is commonly referred to as “Track City” and this year’s nationals, sponsored and “powered” by Aliv.

Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Michael Pintard, the Member of Parliament for Marco City, gave the keynote address as he lauded the accomplishments of the many superstars in attendance, including Olympic 400m gold medallist Shaunae Miller-Uibo, who is hoping to make history in London, England at the IAAF World Championships when she pursues the 200/400 double in August.

Pintard also encouraged Chris’ Fireman’ Brown not to hang up his sprints just yet because he felt the “country needed him” and will continue to support him as he gave the government’s endorsement of his invitational that was called off this year because of a lack of financial support.

Deputy Prime Minister Peter Turnquest, the MP for East Grand Bahama, officially opened the meet. Also present was Richard Stanton, the general manager of Aliv, who has pledged his company’s support of the sponsorship of the meet.

Gibson, a native of Grand Bahama, took the parade of finals contested on day one as he fell just shy of the World Championships’ qualifying time of 49.35 metres in winning the men’s 400m hurdles in 49.42 seconds.

He easily used his 6-foot 4-inch frame to run away from the field that included two collegians Andre Colebrook out of Southeast Lousiana in 51.32 and Xavier Coakley of Auburn in 53.03.

“It was good to come back here and run before the home crowd, but I was just trying to see if I could pull some of the other athletes along and see if they can also qualify,” said Gibson, who has already booked his ticket to London. “For me personally, it felt good. I was glad I was in lane seven by myself. I was able to just focus on myself and my hurdles. I was trying to find my groove, but this is just one of the few meets that I have before World Championships to better my time.”

Bryant Lowe also delighted his Grand Bahama home fans as he stopped the clock in another final in the men’s 1,500m in 4:22.49 well ahead of second place finisher Kendron Adderley in 4:34.00.

As indicated, the sprints produced lived up to their advanced billing as a lot of drama unfolded in the preliminary rounds.

National record holder Miller-Uibo, the star on the women’s side, easily won her heat of the 200m in the fastest qualifying time of 22.54 to dip under the World Championship standard of 23.10.

She beat out Auburn University’s Janae Ambrose, who finished in 23.29 for the third best time. Tynia Gaither, in her first year as professional, won her heat in the second fastest time of 23.23 over Anthonique Strachan, who did 23.32.

Gaither was coming off her leading time of 11.51 in the 100m as she was followed by Ambrose in 11.59 and hurdler Adanaca Brown in 11.87. Keianna Albury of Penn State won the other heat in 11.58 ahead of Strachan in 11.60 and Purdue’s senior Carmeisha Cox in 11.63.

Veteran Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie missed out on a place in the final after a glitch in the timing system had her placed ninth incorrectly, instead of eighth with 11.90. That same glitch mean Tayla Carter was incorrectly placed 10th instead of ninth in 12.01 and V’Alonee Robinson had to settle for an incorrect placing of 11th in 12.05 instead of 10th.

The women’s 400m went to a straight final.

In the preliminaries of the men’s exciting 400m, there was no surprise as national record holder Steven Gardiner breezed to victory in the first of four heats in 46.29 with Grand Bahamian Michael Mathieu trailing in 46.86.

The other winners were Ramon Miller, in his comeback year, in 46.58 over qualifier Bradley Dormeus in 48.03; Ojay Ferguson in 46.95 with Elroy McBride right behind in 47.06 and Chris Brown completing the field in 47.24 over Demetrius Pinder in 47.78.

Unfortunately, Pinder ended up 11th overall and he was denied a spot in the final along with Andretti Bain, ninth in 47.28 and Stephen Newbold, 10th in 47.53.

Shavez Hart was on course to defending his title as he clinched the first of three heats in 10.30 over his Grand Bahamian rival Blake Bartlett, who did 10.61. Adrian Griffith won the second heat in 10.48 and Warren Fraser took the third in 10.39.

Jamial Rolle was the last man standing out of spot in the final as he was ninth in 10.83 after his third place finish in heat one.

Mathieu, coming back for his double duties, closed out the excitement as he posted the fastest qualifying time of the men’s half-lap race in 20.64 over Smith’s 20.68. Hart ended up with the third best time of 21.12 in winning the other heat ahead of Ian Kerr in 21.62.

On the field, Serena Brown, fresh of her freshman year at Texas A&M where she increased her national record in the discus to 56.84m (186-5), won that women’s event with a toss of 50.60m (166-0). Laquell Harris was the only other competitor, finishing with her best with 43.80m (143-8).

University of Houston’s bound Holland Martin delighted his Grand Bahamian home crowd as he soared 7.13m (23-43/4) to snatch the men’s long jump over Commonwealth Youth Games’ representative Denvaughn Whymns, who 6.87m(22-6 ½) for second. Jamieson Pratt was third with 6.41m (21-0 ½).

Leonardo Romer was the lone competitor in the men’s javelin, winning with a toss of 59.84m (196-4).

Estonia’s decathlete Marcel Uibo, husband of Shaunae Miller-Uibo, was also the lone competitor in the men’s shot put as he posted his best mark of 13.75m (45-1 ¼).

And only Antonia Sands contested the women’s high jump as she soared 1.65m (5-5).