The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Chief Sports Editor

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

SPRINTER Lamarr Williams got a NCCAA indoor track record and jumper Sabriya Farquharson had a field day to lead a list of Bahamians competing this weekend in various track and field meets in the United States.

Among the others who shined in their respective events were sprinter Demetrius Rolle and Andrew Styles, Olympic hurdler Charisma Taylor and quarter-milers Javonya Valcourt and Lacarthea Cooper.

Williams, in posting the fastest qualifying time in the preliminaries of the men's 60 metres at the National Christian College Athletic Association Men's Indoor Track and Field Championships in Cedarville University in Ohio, broke a 12-year-old NCCAA record.

The Bethel University sophomore from Moores Island, Abaco, ran 6.77 seconds to erase Kirk Wilson of Shorter University's record that he held from 2014.

Williams, however, came up short in the final as he ended second in 6.85 behind Phil Stupka, a junior at Malone, who took the tape at the line in 6.82.

"Breaking the record wasn’t something that I had in mind. I did not know the record before the race," Williams said. I just went out there and competed and I was able to execute. 

"That race felt very comfortable. It means a lot to me that I am also able to achieve this record."

In the 200m, Williams came in third in 22.08 as Stupka once again took the victory in 22.00. Malachi Weatherly, a junior at Southwestern, got second in 22.02.

"Overall I would say that I was grateful to go out there and compete for my school," Williams added. "It was a great experience but I actually expected a bit more out of myself but no matter what, I remain grateful for what I accomplished."Williams is now preparing to compete at conference championships and the NAIA Nationals where his goal is to "continue to keep trust in God, stay healthy and for the rest of the season to continue to improve on my personal bests."

Farquharson double victory

Competing for Saint Benedict at the CSB/SJU Valentine's Day Open at the Donald McNeely Spectrum in Collegeville, Minnesota, Farquharson clinched the victory in the women's long and triple jumps.

Farquharson, now in her junior year, won the triple jump after clearing 37-feet, 1-inch or 11.30m. Her teammate Hannah Scharnberg was her nearest rival with 33-3 (10.13m).

In the women's long jump, Farquharson also won with her leap of 17-11 3/4 (5.48m). Versatile Zaria Stapleton, a sophomore at St Cloud State, was fifth with 17-0 1/2 (5.19m).

Stapleton also got a third place finish in the women's 60m in 7.91. Michelle Marquard, a sophomore at Southwest Minnesota State, won in 7.79.

Stapleton had the fastest qualifying time of 7.82.

Rolle triumph in Chicago

On Senior Night at the fourth annual Blue Demon Alumni Classic at DePaul University in Chicago, DePaul's Demetrius Rolle won the men's 60m in a lifetime best of 6.74m.  

Rolle also had the fastest qualifying time of 6.69 in the preliminaries. 

Styles won in Ohio

Akron's junior Andrew Styles ran a personal best of 47.36 to win the men's 400m at the Youngstown State University's Last Chance Meet at the Watson and Tressel Training Site in Youngstown, Ohio.

Styles, a native of Grand Bahama, also placed second in the men's 200m in 21.20.

Taylor third/fourth in Arkansas

Getting back to her versatility at the Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, Arkansas, Taylor finished third in the women's 60 metres hurdles in a time of 8.05 seconds. Myreanna Bebe, a senior at Tennessee, won the race in 7.98.

Taylor, preparing for her second consecutive appearance at the World Indoor Championships next month, had the fastest qualifying time of 7.99 in the preliminaries. 

Taylor, 26, also got back in the pit, competing in the women' triple jump where she was fourth with her best leap of 45-feet, 10 1/2-inches or 13.98m. Davisleydi Velazco of Adidas won with 47-7 (14.50m).

A pair of Bahamians competed in the women's 400m with Valcourt taking third in 51.92. Quincy Penn, a junior at Florida, was sixth in 52.45. Rachel Joseph, a senior at Iowa State, won in 51.53.

"I feel really good about my latest performance. It wasn’t the time I really wanted or expected, and I still have a lot of things to work on," said Valcourt, whose aim this year is to dip under the 50-second barrier. "I also don’t think I executed the race competitively the way I normally would not really having anyone in the race to push me made a difference."

Valcourt, who is preparing to run some 4x400m relays for the Lady Vols in two weeks, said while she didn't race in the same heat as Penn, she was still pleased to see another Bahamian 400m runner competing as well.

Penn had a double dose of action. She placed 10th in the women's 200m in 23.36 with Esther Joseph, a sophomore at Tennessee, winning in 22.94.

Also at the meet, Wanya McCoy, a senior at Florida, posted a season's best of 6.64 for fifth in the final of the men's university 60m. Jamarion Stubbs, a senior at Arkansas, won in 6.58. 

McCoy had the sixth fastest time coming out of the preliminaries in 6.68.

Jamiah Nabbie, in her freshman year at Texas, had to settle for 11th place in the preliminaries of the women's 60m in a personal best of 7.38.

And in the men's university 60m hurdles, Otto Laing, a junior at UCLA, came through in 7.91 for 11th overall in the preliminaries.

Cooper fourth at Don Kirby

At the 2026 Don Kirby Elite Indoor at the Albuquerque Convention Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Lacarthea Cooper of Texas A&M clocked 52.94 for fourth place in the women's 400m. 

The event was won by Rebecca Grieve of New Mexico in 51.71.

And in the women' 200m, Shatalya Dorsett of Georgia Southern came in 13th in the preliminaries of the women's 60m in 7.41. 

Hutchinson fourth at YSU

At the YSU Last Chance Meet, Brandon Hutchinson, a senior at Youngstown State, picked up a fourth place finish in the men's 60m hurdles in 7.99. His teammate Micah Mitchell, a junior, won in 7.84.

Hutchinson advanced from the preliminaries with the seventh fastest time of 8.14.