The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

IT wasn’t what he anticipated, but men’s national javelin record holder Keyshawn Strachan is hoping that his experience at the World Athletics Under-20 Championships in Nairobi, Kenya, on Friday will be the impetus to get him ready for his return to the global stage next year.

The 17-year-old Strachan was the second member of Team Bahamas to advance to a final where he was seventh in his speciality with a best heave of 230-7 (70.30m) on his second attempt.

His performance came a day after Rhema Otabor, 18, was one spot shy of getting on the medal podium with her fourth place in the women’s javelin with a Bahamian junior national record of 180-feet, 8-inches or 55.08 metres. “I wasn’t pleased with my performance. I knew I could have done much better,” Strachan said. “I tried my best. I just don’t know what happened. I was anxious, but I gave it my all out there to represent the Bahamas. Hopefully next year, I can come back and get the gold medal.”

Strachan had a series of throws of 213-2 (64.97m) on his first attempt; 224-3 (68.35m) on his third; 229-8 (70.00m) on his fourth; 227-10 (69.45m) on his fifth and 223-9 (68.21m) on his sixth and final try.

Winning the gold was Janne Laspa of Finland with 250-10 (76.46m) on his third attempt. The silver went to Artur Felfner of Ukraine with 250-4 (76.32m) on his fourth try and the bronze went to Chinecherem Nnamdi of Nigeria with 244-4 (74.48) on his fourth try as well.

“I was expecting the competition to be tough because I was competing against some of the best junior athletes in the world,” Strachan said. “I just had to go out there with my A game. I gave it my all, but the competition was tough.”

When he returns home, Strachan said he and his coach Cporr4ington Maycock will be working on improving his technique so that he can be a medal contender for his anticipated return to the World Junior Championships in Colombia in 2022 and the Olympic Games in Paris. France in 2024.

Maycock, an assistant coach on Team Bahamas’ staff in Nairobi,

“Contrary to everything, including the weather, there’s some things he was lacking that we need to improve on when he gets back home for the World Juniors next year where he’s a favorite to be a medalist,” Maycock said.

“And seeing where our throwers came from, I can’t ask for anything more, having two competitors in the finals. It’s not normal that a coach can boast of having two competitors in any final and I did it. I’m very proud of their accomplishments.”

Also on day three In the women’s long jump qualifying rounds, Alexis Tilford-Rutherford, 18, could only muster a leap of 18-1 (5.51m) for tenth in Group B and 20th overall. The top qualifier was Shaili Singh of India with 21-0 (6.40m).

And on the track, Antoine Andrews, 18, cleared the men’s 110m hurdles in 14.08 seconds for sixth place in his heat and 23rd overall.

Both Wendell Miller, 18, and Carlos Brown, just 15, didn’t advance out of the semi-final of the men’s 200m, while 18-year-old Camille Rutherford also fell short in the women’s 200m semi’s. The other Bahamian entered in the event, 17-year-old Lacarthea Cooper, got disqualified.

Miller, in his men’s semi’s, was fourth in his heat in 20.69 for ninth place overall. Miller, 18, won his first round heat in 20.72 for fifth place overall going into the semi’s.

Brown, on the other hand, advanced with a fourth place in his heat in a personal best of 20,99 for the 12th fastest time for the semi’s. But in his semi’s, Brown placed fifth in his heat in a wind-aided time of 20.92 (+2.3 reading) for 15th place overall.

The duo also got to the semi’s of the men’s 100m where they came through with lifetime best performances. Miller posted a time of 10.45 for sixth in his heart and 11th overall. Brown trailed in 12th place after he got fourth in his heat in 10.47.

In the first round, Miller got second in his heat in 10.51 for 11th and Brown was third in his heat for 13th in 10.53. Both times improved on their previous best performances of 10.52 and 10.39 (wind-aided) respectively coming into the championships.

As for the women, Rutherford clocked 23.76 for fourth in her heat for ninth place overall in the semi-finals of the 200m. Rutherford got out of her heat in the first round with 23.62 for second place and sixth overall.

Cooper was disqualified in her first round heat.

The pair also contested the 100m with Rutherford placing third in her heat of the semi’s in 11.72 for 12th overall. She won her first round heat in 11.59 for third overall. Cooper was seventh in her heat for 33rd overall in 12.30.

Lamont Moss, 18, was the other member of the team. He qualified for the men’s 200m, but didn’t get to compete as only two athletes are allowed per country and those spots were taken by Miller and Brown.

Head coach Bernard Rolle said the management team was quite pleased with the way the eight of the nine-member team performed.

“I think the team did a marvelous job,” Rolle said. “We started with Rhema (Otabor) in the javelin. She came out with a national junior record. Following that, we had the sprinters compete in the 100 and 200m and Antoine (Andrews) in the 110m hurdles, Alexis (Tilford-Rutherford) in the long jump and Keyshawn (Strachan) in the javelin.

“We were very pleased with the performances from the athletes. It was a very long season, but they all went out there and gave it their best. We’re satisfied with what the team did overall.”

Rolle said they were hoping that the Bahamas could have entered as a team in the men’s 4 x 100m relay with a combination of Miller, Brown, Moss and Andrews, but because the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations didn’t submit the team before the team left, they could not include them at the championships.

The Bahamas, however, didn’t have sufficient female quarter-milers to field a team for the mixed gender 4 x 400m relay team.

The team is expected to leave Nairobi today and return home on Tuesday.