The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

JUST before anchoring Swift Athletics to an impressive come-from-behind victory in the under-20 boys’ 4 x 400 metre relay, Wendell Miller powered his way past the qualifying standard in the 200m for the CARIFTA Games.

Miller clocked 21.11 seconds to win the half-lap race on Saturday at the DTSP Track Classic at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium. And there were a few other qualifiers for the postponed top junior regional games that will now take place in August in Hamilton, Bermuda.

The 18-year-old 12th grader at St John’s College also displayed his speed as he captured the 100m in 10.71 to match the CARIFTA B standard. The A time is 10.50.

Earlier this year, Miller ran the B qualifying time of 48.28 in the 400m, but he feels once he can execute coming out of the blocks, he could achieve the A standard of 47.34.

However, he was just thrilled by his effort in the half-lap race.

“It was a great experience because the last time I ran the 200m, I was in grade 10 (at CR Walker),” Miller said. “I feel like I did very good, considering that I haven’t run it in a long time.”

He was mobbed by his Swift Athletics’ team-mates as he literally ran a split of 45-plus seconds to reel in the field on anchor of their 1,600m relay to win in 3:20.13 over Red-Line Athletics, who was second in 3:21.01.

“It was a great team. We came from the back and won, so I’m really proud of my team-mates. We did a really good job,” summed up Miller of his team-mates, Cresswell Farrington, Logan Major and Cory Johnson.

Swift Athletics’ head coach said while everybody raved about the 1,600m team, they should have watched his 4 x 100m squad that won in 40.76. They included Brandon Brown, Miller, Samalie Farrington and Carlos Brown. Their nearest rivals were Fast Forward in 41.80.

“That was remarkable,” said Tynes, who has run on a number of relay teams that has put the Bahamas name on the map during his era as one of the top sprinters, not just in the country, but the region.

Meet manager and DTSP head coach Larry Clarke said he couldn’t ask for a better showing in the meet.

“First and foremost, I want to thank God for allowing us to be here. It was a well-run meet,” Clarke said. “I want to give kudos to my meet director Dave Charlton, BACO, the techs team, the sound team, all of the volunteers, my executive team and all of the coaches and athletes.

“I think we had some qualifiers today, so we are blessed to have been able to afford them this opportunity to qualify. We want to thank our title sponsor Oak Tree, the National Health Insurance, Thompson Trading and everyone who helped to make this event a success.”

For their efforts, Clarke said his executive team will get Sunday off to recuperate, but they will be right back at it today planning for next year’s fifth edition of the meet.

Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ president Drumeco Archer said every meet so far this year has had its own unique qualification about it and DSTP added another dimension with their presentations and the details, as well as Whisky, their mascot.

“I’m just thrilled that each and every time we have a track meet, we give the athletes something to look forward to,” he said. “It’s a fun meet. But with every passing meet, we have more and more qualifiers for Carifta. I’m pleased with the qualifiers now, but I can’t wait to see what they will look like in August.”

The meet honored long-time coach Ronald Cartwright as its patron. He was serenaded and presented with gifts from the DTSP Wolf Pack Track Team during the opening ceremonies, of which he said he was truly grateful.

A number of former elite athletes, including Golden Girls Puline Davis-Thompson and Eldece Clarke, Carl Oliver, Ramon Miller, MaryAnn Higgs-Clarke, Travano Mackey and Nathaniel McKinney were also recognized during the meet.

“I see some amazing talent out here. You guys are so gifted and talented,” said Davis-Thompson, who went on to hold the office of a Council Member of the governing body of the sport, the International Amateur Athletic Federation, now known as World Athletics.

“As you journey through this special gift that God has given you, always remember to never use your gift to hit anyone in the head with it. In other words, remember that you are always Bahamians first and foremost.”

To those going to Cairfta, Davis-Thompson advised the athletes that the pride run deep in the 242 and they will be counted on to go to Bermuda and turn in their best performances in representing the country.

Clarke, who teamed up with Davis-Thompson, Chandra Sturrup, Sevatheda Fynes and Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie to win both the IAAF’s World Championships and Olympic gold medals, presented trophies to the Red-Line Athletic Club’s victorious mixed relay teams.

The under-17 team consisted of Ezthia Maycock, Clinton Laguerre, Nya Wright and Jonathan Fowler clocked 46.02, while the under-20 team was made up of Asia Bullard, Otto Laing, Lacarthea Cooper and Shimar Bain ran 44.51.

Red-Line Athletics also won the under-20 girls 4 x 100m relay in 48.15 over DTSP Wolf Pack (49.04). They also carted off the under-17 boys’ 4 x 100m in 43.59 with the T-Bird Flyers second in 44.49.

Spirit of Excellence took the under-15 girls’ 4 x 100m in 50.86, while the boys’ title went to Fast Forward in 46.74. The Road Runners dominated the top three spots in the under-13 girls’ 400m relay with the winner running 53.33 and Spirit of Excellence added the under-13 boys crown in 56.60.

The Beginners Track Club won the under-11 girls’ race in 1:01.62 and Kids’ Athletic Academy clinched the boys title in 1:02.02.

Among the winners in some of the meets were Bahamas Speed Dynamics’ Lavardo Deveaux in the under-17 boys 110m hurdles in 16.28 and team-mate Antione Andrews in the under-20 boys’ in 14.29.

Andrews also doubled up by taking the long jump with a leap of 23-0 1/2 (7.02m).

Devondra Sands of Sunblazers won the under-17 girls’ 100m hurdles in 15.64 and Bahamas Speed Dynamics’ Shunece Miller took the under-20 girls race in 15.40.

Miller also won the long jump with 16-feet, 8-inches or 5.08 metres.

While Miller won the under-20 boys century, the under-17boys champion was Johathon Fowler of Red-Line in 11.31. Shavante Roberts of Fast Forward won the under-20 girls race in 12.35 and Nia Richards led a 1-2 Star Trackers sweep in 12.67 with Amari Pratt trailing in 12.73.

Red-Line’s Teshon Adderley won the open women’s 800m in 2:24.46 with Fast Forward’s Javonya Valcourt taking the under-20 girls’ race in 2:27.68 and Desha Pierre, also of Fast Forward, taking the under-17 divisional title in 2:30.24.

Auston Clarke of Bahamas Speed Dynamics won the open men’s two-lap race in 1:57.80; Bahamas High Performances’ Kenzie Knowles took the under-17 boys’ race in 2:05.91 and Raywind Winder of Hurray Murray took the under-17 boys race in 2:01.09.

Jamal Wilson, who qualified for the Olympic Games prior to the postponement last year, cleared 7-0 1/2 (2.15m) to take the open men’ high jump in honor of Ronald Cartwright, who coaches him as a member of the RC Athletics Club.

One of the impressive performances came from Carifta qualifier Keyshawn Strachan of the Blue Chips Athletics with a winning heave of 199-4 (60.77) in the under-20 boys javelin.

Blue Chips Athletics’ Carifta qualifiers Tarajh Hudson dominated the under-20 boys’ discus with 168-7 (51.40m) and shot put with 47-6 1/2 (14.49m). His team-mate Kaden Cartwright took the under-17 boys’ discus with 128-0 (39.02m).

The shot put was won by AGS Athletics’ Tamario Petty with 46-2 3/4 (12.97m).

Laquell Harris of Blue Chips Athletics doubled up in the open women’s discus with 136-0 (41.45) and shot put with 36.11(11.25m).

Carifta qualifier Anne-Marie Oriakhi took the under-20 girls’ discus with 115-8 (35.26) and shot put with 35-6 (10.82m) for Blue Chips Athletics as well. The javelin went to Davonna Collie of RC Athletics with 119-0 (36.29m).

And in the under-17 girls’ division, G’Shan Brown of Fast Forward won the javelin with 96-6 (29.42m). Blue Chips Athletics’ Cailyn Johnson tossed the shot put 32-0 3/4 (9.77m) and the discus 93-3(28.42m).