The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

VERSATILE Charisma Taylor turned in another impressive performance to lead a number of Bahamian collegiate and professional athletes in action over the weekend in various track and field meets around the United States of America.

Taylor double record breaking triumph

At the Matador Qualifier, Taylor, the Washington State University’s senior, was exceptional, posting a pair of personal best record breaking performances in pulling off a pair of victories in the two events she competed in.

In the preliminaries of the 60-metre hurdles, Taylor clocked 8.27 for the fastest qualifying time.

She came back in the final and produced her PR, a WSU all-time record, and Matador Qualifier record time of 8.16 in the event as well, surpassing her previous best in the event in WSU women’s history of 8.19.

The former Queen’s College standout finished up her day in the triple jump, posting yet another meet record with a mark of 44-feet 1 1/2 inches (13.45m), and winning the event in the process as well.

“This meet was a really good for me,” Taylor told The Tribune. “In the hurdles, my start still needs some work, but all in all, it was a great race and I know there is still more in the tank.

“The triple jump was really good as well. I had enough time after the hurdles to prepare for the triple jump, so no problem there. I had a great series, two big fouls, but that was only fuel on the fire.”

Looking back at the performances, the 21-year-old Taylor admitted that she wasn’t concentrating on winning, just doing her best, but she ended up with a great time and jump, which propelled her.

“I just wanted to go out there and do my best running against the clock and jumping against myself,” she stressed. “I feel good. I’m in shape, not injured, which is great, so I know there will be greater things to come as the season progresses.”

This weekend at the University of Washington at the Huskies Classic, Taylor will be back in action in the hurdles.

Following that, she will get ready for the NCAA National Indoor Championships, scheduled for March 11-13 in Fayetteville, Arkansas, where she will double up in the hurdles and the triple jump.

“I hope to better my time so that I can get on the national standard for the hurdles,” she pointed out. “I want to be a two-time qualifier for Nationals, one in the hurdles and in the triple jump.”

Taylor is aiming to qualify for the postponed 2020 Olympic Games in the triple jump. She’s also hoping to qualify for the 60m hurdles when the games take place from July 23 to August 8 in Tokyo, Japan.

Trio at ATL

At the American Track League #4 in Fayetteville, Arkansas, Nairn, the 24-year-old newly minted men’s national indoor record holder, competed in the Athletics Westchester Men’s Long jump where he had to settle for third place.

His best mark was a sub-par 19-feet, 4-inches or 5.89 metres. American Marquis Dendy won the title once again as he soared 26-10 1/2 (8.19m), followed by compatriot Greg Vann with 24-6 1/4 (7.47m).

Nairn was coming off his record breaking performance at the ATL #3 when he erased thed previous mark of 26-7 (8.10m) by Leevan ‘Superman’ Sands with his PR of 26-91/4 (8.16m) two weeks.

He is in his senior year at the University of Arkansas where he will only be competing in the outdoor season. He is hoping to qualify for the Olympics as well.

Also at the one day meet, national 100m hurdles record holder Pedrya Seymour made her debut in the Athletic Gentix Women’s 60m hurdles. She placed sixth in the final in 8.24 as Jamaican’s Danielle Williams surged to victory in a lifetime best of 7.86.

The 25-year-old Seymour, who has already qualified for the Olympics, had the sixth fastest qualifying time of 8.23 as Williams surged on top of the list with 7.90.

The Bahamas national indoor record is still intact, held by Devynne Charlton. She ran 7.93 on March 11, 2017 at the NCAA Division One Championships in College Station, Texas and 7.89 on March 3, 2018 at the World Indoor Championships in Birmingham.

And veteran sprinter Warren Fraser also jumpstart his season by placing sixth in the men’s 60m in 6.71. The winning time was 6.58 by American Zachary Jewell.

Fraser, the 29-year-old 2012 Olympian had the seventh fastest time of 6.77 in the preliminaries after he got second in the last of two heats that was won by American Jarrion Lawson in 7.22. Jewell emerged with a pervious PR of 6.59 in winning heat one with the fastest qualifying time.

Stubbs in double action

Senior hurdler Kenisha Stubbs, a 5-7 graduate of St John’s College and Cloud County Community College, competed for Tusculum University at the Camel City Invitational at the JDL Fast Track.

The Business Administration major was seventh in the 60m in 8.30 and 10th in the 60m hurdles in 9.45, which was the fifth-best mark in program history at Tusculum.