The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

Quarter-miler Steven Gardiner and long jumper LaQuan Nairn led a contingent of five Bahamians who turned in some outstanding performances at the USATF Bermuda Grand Prix yesterday at the Flora Duffy Stadium in Devonshire, Bermuda.

In a showdown for a pair of Bahamians in the men’s 400m, Abaco native Gardiner powered through the line in 44.42 seconds and was trailed by Grand Bahamian Alonzo Russell in second in 45.24. American Trevor Stewart got third in 45.58.

The Puma men’s long jump saw Commonwealth Games champion Nairn soar a wind-aided 27-feet, 3 3/4-inches or 8.32 metres to secure the win on his sixth and final attempt.

He also had three other wind-aided marks of 26-3 3/4 (8.02m) on his first try, 26-3 (8.00m) on his third and 26-1 (7.95m) on his fifth attempt.

American Steffin McCarter was second with a pair of identical performances of 27-0 (8.23m) on both his fifth and sixth tries.

Back on the track, Anthonique Strachan, coming off her victory in the 200m in 22.59 at the NACAC New Life Invitational in Grand Bahama last weekend, had a stiffer challenge and had to settle for second place in the Xfinity Women’s 200m in 22.34.

Running blinded on the outside, Strachan trailed American Abby Steiner, who pulled up on the side of her on the straight away to snatch the victory in 22.06. American MaKenzie Dunmore trailed Strachan for third in 22.50. And also on the field in the BTA men’s triple jump, Kaivan Culmer mustered a season’s best of 523-4 1/4 (16.27m) on his third attempt for ninth place. He scratched his first try and came back and did 51-7 3/4 (15.74m) on his second attempt.

American Will Clay took the title with his best leap of 57-3 (17.45m) on his second attempt. He twice did 56-2 1/2 (17.13m) on his only two other legal jumps on his first and fourth.