The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

It was back on August 26, 2007 at the World Championships in Osaka, Japan, that Derrick Atkins established the Bahamas men’s 100 metres national record of 9.91 seconds to win the silver medal. No other Bahamian came close until Saturday when Grand Bahamian Terrence Jones equalised the time.

In surpassing the qualifying standard of 10.00 for the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, August 19-27, Grand Bahamian Terrence Jones tied Atkins’ national record in winning the men’s century at the Tom Jones Memorial Invitational at the Percy Beard Track at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida.

Jones’ spectacular world-leading time left his Texas Tech team-mate Courtney Lindsey strides behind in 10.04. Fellow Bahamians Adrian Curry, competing for Ohio State, was 34th overall in 10.54 and Zachary Evans of Purdue was 48th in 10.69.

However, the performance for Jones came after he posted another world leading time of 20.05 in winning the men’s 200m at the 95th Texas Relays two weeks ago, which was also a World Championship qualifier.

The 20-year-old Jones, who won gold and silver in the under-20 boys 400 and 200m respectively at the 2021 CARIFTA Games and bronze in 2018 in the under-17 boys 200m, was unavailable for comments, but Atkins, now the head coach of the women’s programme at Utah Tech University in Southern Utah, said he saw it coming.

“Just his progression and being in the high level collegiate system, I saw it coming,” Atkins said of Jones’ accomplishments. “I think he can still go faster. It’s just a matter of staying healthy and being hungry. If he’s not hungry, it won’t happen. He have to stay hungry.”

His local coach John Ingraham, who heads the Heats Athetic programme, concurs with Atkins.

“I feel Terrence has come a long way, after experiencing a few minor injuries and setbacks,” said Ingraham, who was the head h=-coach of the CARIFTA track team. “He was finally able to harness his talent and break out and do hat he was born to you. I’m happy for him. He’s finally getting a chance to show the world what he can do.

“I think you will see some great things from him His progression is tremendous. It’s awesome. He started off at 10.-2, then gone to 10.0 and now down to 9.9. His ability will exceed all expectations. He will become a great 100m runner. He’s going to make history once he stay healthy.”

Samson Colebrooke, who previously ran the second fastest 100m by a Bahamian in 10.01 on July 5, 2019 in Queretaro, Mexico, followed Jones’ performance at the meet. He ran 10.43 for 16th place in the men’s Olympic Developmental 100m that was won by American Noah Lyles in 9.95.

It was the second time Colebrooke faced Lyles in the meet. In the men’s Olympic Developmental 200m, Colebrooke was fifth in 21.01 as Lyles took the tape in 20.16, which was also slower than the men’s collegiate 200m won by Tarsis Orogot of Alabama in 19.60.

Along with Jones, Curry, Evans and Samson, a number of Bahamians were in action at the Tom Jones Memorial Invitational.

Strachan big heave again

Fresh from watching his little sister establish a CARIFTA record in the under-17 girls javelin, Auburn freshman Keyshawn Strachan picked up his second straight victory in the men’s javelin with a toss of 252-feet, 6-inches or 76.97 metres.

Just a week before going home for CARIFTA to support Team Bahamas and his younger sister Kamera Strachan as she established a CARIFTA record in the under-17 girls javelin, Strachan had improved on his national record with a huge world leading heave of 276-5 (84.27m) at the Texas Relays at the Mike A. Myers Stadium.

Strachan, however, is still shy of the World Championship qualifying mark of 85.20m, but as he returned to action over the weekend, he out-distanced his nearest rival, Chinecherem Prosper Nnamdi of Baylor, who did 232-1 (70.75m) for second.

Russell improves lifetime best

Grand Bahamian Alonzo Russell posted his second consecutive World Championship qualifying standard of 45.00 in the men’s 400m. In his second meet for the year, Russell lowered his personal best time to 44.73 for a second place in the men’s Olympic Developmental 400m behind Jereem Richards of Adidas in 44.68.

Kinard Rolle, competing for Empire Athletics, was 15th overall in 48.18.

Miller Jr soars

Shaun Miller Jr, competing for Ohio State, participated in the men’s high jump invitational where he placed fourth with a leap of 7-0 ¼ (2.14m). It was the same height cleared by the second through sixth place finishers, but they got their positions based on fewer knockdowns. Tony Jones of Mississippi State won outright with 7-2 ¼ (2.19m).

The World Championship qualifying height is 2.32m.

Taylor second and third

In the women’s college 100m hurdles, Charisma Taylor of Tennessee came through in second place in 12.84. Rayniah Jones of the University of Central Florida won in 12.80. Taylor had the fifth fastest qualifying time of 13.05.

Taylor, in double duties on the day, also competed in the women’s triple where she was third with her best leap of 44-6 ¾ (13.58m). Thea Lafond of Dominica won with 46-4 ¼ (14.13m). Jasmine Moore of Florida was second with 45-7 ¾ (13.91m).

Charlton sisters make their presence felt

Devynne Charlton, home to view CARIFTA and to have a billboard erected in the Stapledon Gardens community last week, had to settle for third place in the women’s Olympic Development’s 100m hurdles in 12.64 to dip under the World Championship qualifying time of 12.78.

American Nia Ali, representing Nike, won in 12.53. World record holder Tobi Amusan of Adidas, was second in 12.59.

Charlton, competing for Puma, had the fifth fastest qualifying time of 12.87. Sasha Wells, another Bahamian competing unattached, was 13th in 13.66.

As she showed some of her versatility of old, Charlton also contested the 100m for some speed work. She was 11th overall in 11.66. Kiara Grant, unattached, won the event in 10.99.

Her younger Anthaya Charlton, who was also home to view CARIFTA, was 34th overall in the women’s 200m in 23.47 as she represented the University of Kentucky with Bahamian Rolando ‘Lonnie’ Greene as the head coach and Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie as an assistant.

Archer in century

Julien Alfred of Texas won the event in the second fastest time posted in NCAA history in 21.91. Her time was faster than the Women’s 200m Olympic Developmental race won by Melissa Jefferson of Nike in 23.02.

Alfred also ran a wind-aided 10.72 to double up in the collegiate 100m. Bahamian Paige Archer, in her freshman year for the University of Central Florida, was 4th overall in the event in 11.65.

Andrews, Smith and Coakley in hurdles

Texas Tech freshman Antoine Andrews clocked 13.66 for sixth place in the men’s collegiate 110m hurdles final that was won by Devon Brooks of Tennessee in 13.26. Andrews had the ninth and final qualifying time4 of 13.75. Oscar Smith, also competing for Ohio State, was 14th overall in the preliminaries in 13.,91.

Xavier Coakley, listed as unattached, was fifth in the men’s Olympic Developmental 110m hurdles in 13.97. American Grant Holloway, representing Adidas, won the race in 13.05.

The World Championship qualifier for the three hurdlers is 13.28.

Moss makes a run for it

Megan Moss, another member of the Kentucky connection, was entered in the women’s collegiate 400m where she came in 27th overall in 53.68. The winning time was 49.51 by Britton Wilson of Arkansas.

Win for Gibson in Kansas

At the Kansas Relays at the Rock Chalk Park, Gabrielle Gibson, competing unattached for Kansas, won the women’s collegiate 100m hurdles with the fastest qualifying time in the collegiate women’s 100m hurdles in 13.39. Miracle Thompson of Cloud County trailed in 13.77. Gibson posted the fastest qualifying time of 13.43.

Although she had some unfinished business to take care of, Gibson also had the fastest qualifying time of 23.69 in the 200m, but she didn’t contest the final that was won by Aria Pearce, unattached, in 24.16.

University of Central Florida’s freshman Paige Archer clocked 11.65 for 45th overall. Julie3en Alfred from Texas completed a sweep of the sprints in 10.72 as she added to her victory in the 200m.

Bahamian athletes at Tom Jones Invitational include Devynne Charlton, Megan Moss, Charisma Taylor, Anthaya Charlton, Shaun Miller Jr and Adrian Curry in front. In back are Sasha Wells, Wanya McCoy, Gabrielle Gibson, Antoine Andrews, Oscar Smith and Terrence Jones.