The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

SHAUNAE Miller-Uibo and Steven Gardiner, preparing to lead the Bahamas team at the 2020 Olympic Games next month, put on a show for the Bahamian fans at the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ National Track and Field Championships.

Over the weekend at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium, all eyes were glued to the two superstars as they got some challenges from some of the young rising stars and a few visiting athletes from countries from the North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) region.

Miller-Uibo, in double duties, breezed through the women’s 200m in 22.18 seconds, pulling Anthonique Strachan through in second in 22.76 as she became the fourth Bahamian female to dip under the A qualifying standard of 22.80 for the Olympic Games, scheduled for July 23 to August 8 in Tokyo, Japan.

“I’m just happy with it. I gave God thanks and praise. Just to be able to come out here and compete is a blessing,” Miller-Uibo said.

“I’m so happy that she qualified. She said that was her goal and she put down the qualification, so now she can get the rest of her season going.”

Strachan, in joining Miller-Uibo, Grand Bahamian Brianne Bethel and Tynia Gaither in attaining the qualifying standard, said she came here for the standard and she did it.

“I already have the qualification of the rankings, but that doesn’t mean that I will get to go,” Strachan said. “Now that I have the time, I feel very proud of myself.”

Lacarthea Cooper, a junior competitor from Red-Line Athletics, who has qualified for the NACAC Under-18 and Under-23 Championships and the World Under-20 Championships, was third in 24.12.

Teray Smith, coming off an injury-filled season, won the men’s 200m in 20.67, although it was shy of the qualifying standard of 20.24. Grand Bahamian Terrance Jones was second in 20.81 and Ian Kerr got third in 21.04.

“I was injured all season, but I ran two rounds of the 100m here and two rounds in the 200, so just to finish was good enough for me,” Smith said. “It was my season best in both events, so I will take it.”

400m champions

Early Saturday morning, Miller-Uibo clocked 50.48 to take the women’s 400m with collegians Doneisha Anderson from the University of Florida second in 52.67, while Megan Moss of the University of Kentucky got third in 53.23.

“It was a good run. First, I just want to thank God for allowing me to come out and compete well in front of the Bahamian crowd,” Miller-Uibo said.

“It is always good to be home.”

Back from a slight injury that slowed her down in her last meet in the United States, Miller-Uibo came back in the 200m where her focus is this year going into Tokyo, Japan for the Olympics, scheduled for July 23 to August 8.

Gardiner, who left no stones unturned with the rising young stars chasing him, clocked an impressive 44.52 to win the men's 400m over St John's College standout Wendell Miller, whose goal all year was to run against his idle, got second in 45.81. In the process, Miller also erased the Bahamas junior national record of 45.94 that set by Stephen 'Dirty' Newbold here at the 2013 Carifta Games.

Grand Bahamian veteran Alonzo Russell was third in 46.31 and Wanya McCoy, a standout from Queen’s College, was fourth in 46.96. Both Miller and McCoy have qualified for the NACAC Under-23 Championships in Costa Rica in July and the World Junior Championships in Nairobi, Kenya in August.

“I felt good. It’s been a long year. I had an injury, so it’s good to be able to come here and compete in front of the Bahamian crown,” Gardiner said.

“I was also very happy for Wendell (Miller) and Wonya (McCoy). It’s crazy man. We have two of them coming up and they are going to do amazing. I’m happy for both of them.”

Miller, the St John’s College standout who all year said his dream was to run against Gardiner, got his wish.

“It was great. I was able to showcase to the people out there what I’m capable of doing,” he said. “I’m glad I got a chance to compete against him because not too many people are doing what he is doing.”

Women’s 100m hurdles

Olympic bound Devynne Charlton and Pedrya Seymour, both represented by Puma, took the top two spots over Mulern Jean from Haiti in the women’s 100m hurdles on Sunday.

Charlton, the national record holder, clocked 12.87 for victory, while Seymour, the former national record holdér, was second in 12.92. Jean was third in 13.12.

“It felt pretty good. It wasn’t in the race plan that I wanted to execute, but I’m happy that I came out with the win,” Charlton said.

“The fitness is there. I just have to fine tune some things before I go to the Olympics. But it’s very special for a country of our size to have two women competing together. I can’t see why we both can’t be in the final.”

For Seymour, she noted that it was a good race and they complemented each other very well.

“Me and Devynne are both competitive, so I really wanted to come out here and put on a show for the Bahamian people,” Seymour said.

“I really don’t remember the race because it was a blur, but it was good to see my family in the stands. I just need to get faster and tighten up on my technique.”

Men’s 110m hurdles

Trinidad and Tobago got a 1-2 punch from Ruebin Walters and Mikel Thomas in the open men’s 110m hurdles in 13.65 and 16.66 respectively. Jahmaal Wilson was third in 14.23.

Female sprint champion

Olympic bound sprinter TyNia Gaither earned the women’s 100m crown in 11.27 on Friday night as she held off Anthonique Strachan, who did 11.30, while Camille Rutherford of the University of Houston, came in third in 11.53.

“It went well. I’m trying to focus on executing. That’s the most important part right now,” Gaither said. “If I execute my race properly, I would shock a lot of people, probably even myself.

“So hopefully I can take that mentality into Tokyo. I just have some small things to work on and I know I will be right there with everybody else. These wins are important going into Tokyo. Mentally, it makes a world of a difference.”

Strachan, now training in Jamaica, said she executed her race from start to finish.

“I transitioned well and so I’m happy with my performance,” she said. “I can’t really complain about it. All in all, it went very well for me.”

Men’s sprint champion

Having also qualified for the Olympics, Purdue University graduate Samson Colebrooke left no stones unturned as he was declared the men’s 100m champion in 10.31. Grand Bahamians Terrance Jones Jr got second in 10.39 and Teray Smith was third in 10.43.

“The race went well. I had a great time. I had a little problem with my start, stumbled out of the blocks, but got a chance to get it together and to move forward,” Colebrooke said.

“It was great competition from Terrance (Jones), (Ian) Kerr, Warren Fraser, all those guys. So it was a good race. I feel good. There are a few things me and my coach (Norbert Elliott) have to work on, but we will be ready to compete against the best and I know when I step on the track, people will see the Bahamian flag as we go for the gold.”

For Jones, second place is something he was glad to walk away with.

“Considering that this is just my second 100m for the season, the heats being the first, I could live with that. I came out with two PRs (personal best) today,” he said. “Overall, I feel good about it because I’m no longer a 100m runner, so I’m thankful for the performance.”

Men’s high jump champion

Although they were hampered by the downpour of the rain, which forced officials to delay the start of the competition on Friday night, Donald Thomas cleared 7-feet, 1-inch or 2.16 metres to win the title.

He was followed by Trevor Barry, now an assistant collegiate coach, with 6-11 3/4 (2,13m), the same height that collegian Shaun Miller did for third place.

“I came out here to battle with the guys,” Thomas said. “The goal is to stay healthy and just continue to progress. To come out here and jump in these kinds of conditions and walk away injury free, I just want to give God thanks.”

Women’s long jump champion

Veteran Bianca Stuart, back on the track after suffering a few injuries from 2018, was aiming to qualify for her third Olympics, but fell short.

In fact, she ended up second in the women’s long jump with 5.84m.

“I just want to thank God I got through it healthy,” said Stuart, now trained by her brother Nyles Stuart in Atlanta.

“I was just trying to get back into the rhythm of things and see if I could make a miracle happen.”

Akela Jones, who is on track to represent Barbados at the Olympics, won the event with 6.60m, while Mariah Toussaint from Dominica was third with 5.72m.

“It was good to have the young ladies here competing. I competed against them in college and on the international scene,” said Stuart, who is not contemplating retirement just yet.

Women’s triple jump champion

Tamara Myers of Leap of Faith, soared 13.64m to clinch the women’s triple jump title over Washington State’s Charisma Taylor, who did 13.26m for second. Amelia Peterson was third with 12.23m.

Women’s discus champion

With some competition from her American counterpart, Iowa’s strongwoman and Bahamian national record holder Serena Brown powered to victory in the women’s discus with her heave of 189-8 (57.83m). Micaela Hazlewood was second with 188-6 (57.47m) and Latia Saunders got third with 78-8 (23.99m).

400m hurdles champion

UTEP’s Shakeem Smith posted a winning time of 52.54 in the men’s 400m hurdles over Andre Colebrook, who did 52.75 and veteran Andretti Bain, who was third in 53.68.

Double champion

Anne-Marie Oriakhi emerged as a double champion in the under-18 girls throwing events. She won the shot put with 39-4 (11.99m) over Calea Jackson, who did 36-11 3/4 (11.27m) and Taneil Ferguson, third with 31-3 1/4 (9.53m).

Oriakhi also took the discus with 127-1 (38.75m), followed by Jackson with 36-11 (11.27m) and Ferguson, third with 31-3 (9.53m).

Rhema Otabor won the under-20 girls’ discus with her toss of 120-5 (36.72m). Bernesha Knowles was second with 112-1 (34.17m) and Carnitra Mackey got third with 93-5 (28.49m).

Men’s triple jump

Tamar Greene, coming off an NCAA Championship appearance for Purdue, won the men’s triple jump with 53-8 1/2 (16.37m).

Kaiwan Culmer was second with 52-9 1/2 (16.09m), while the Collie-Minns’ twin brothers 52-8/Latario (16.05m) and Lathone (49-03/14.95m) got third and fourth respectively.

The men’s 4 x 400m relay team of Wanya McCoy, Steven Gardiner, Wendell Miller and Alonzo Russell ran 3:02.87 for the victory. Mexico, with the quartet of Daniel Stokes Lopez, Luis Aviles, Edgar Ramirez and Valente Edgar second in 3:04.46. The Bahamas B team of Corey Sherrod, Kinard Rolle, Shakeem Smith and Gregory Seymour ran 3:10.74 for third.