A BAHAMIAN national indoor record for versatile Charisma Taylor and a big victory for Devynne Charlton highlighted a number of performances from Bahamian athletes around the United States in their various meets over the weekend.
Taylor record-breaking performance
Tyson Invitational
With a winning leap of 46-feet, 00.75-metres, Taylor soared into the Bahamian record books, replacing the previous mark of (13.60m) that was set by Tamara Myers on February 10, 2018 at the Tyson Invitational.
Her nearest rival was Mikeisha Welcome, a junior at Georgia, who did 45.00.25 (13.72m).
“I felt good about my triple jump performance. I came into Saturday with the mindset of winning and jumping big and that’s what I did,” Taylor said.
“I expected to jump very well this weekend and I did but to know that I have way more to give. I have been meditating and spending more time in the word and being specific with what it is that I want for my last collegiate season and God is opening my eyes to bigger and better things and giving me more than I can ever imagine.”
Taylor said when she jumped 14.04, she knew that it was a big one but it wasn’t her best jump technically.
“That’s why I said that there’s more in the tank,” she stressed.
Taylor wasn’t done as she picked up a second place finish in the women’s 60m hurdles in 8.08. Masai Russell, a senior at Kentucky, was the winner in 7.94. Taylor got out of the semi-final with the second fastest time of 8.06 behind Russell’s leading time of 7.92.
In the preliminaries, Taylor had the third fastest time of 8.17 to advance behind Russell’s top time of 8.02 and University of Central Florida’s junior Rayniah Jones, who had the second best of 8.12.
“Hurdles on Friday was decent,” Taylor pointed out. “I am working on some new technical things and it’s a matter of time before everything clicks into place and I run the time that I know I’m capable of running.”
In two weeks, Taylor will be back in action when she competes in the Southeastern Conference Championships in Fayetteville, Arkansas, before she heads to the NCAA Indoor Nationals in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Also in the meet, Anthaya Charlton, a sophomore at the University of Kentucky where Bahamians Rolando ‘Lonnie’ Greene is the head coach and Debbie Ferguson- McKenzie is an assistant, was fifth in the women’s long jump.
Her leap of 20-feet, 8 ½-inches, now ranks as one of longest leaps by any Bahamian.
In the 60m, Charlton ran 7.38 for 22nd and Camille Rutherford, a sophomore at Texas A&M, was 37th in 7.49.
Charlton also competed in the 200m where she was 44th overall in 24.11 ahead of Rutherford, who was 51st in 21.19. Rhasidat Adeleke, a sophomore at Texas, won the event in 22.68.
Wanya McCoy, a freshman at Clemson, was sixth in the men’s 200m in 20.60. Ohio State’s Bahamian duo of senior Adrian Curry (21.19) and junior Oscar Smith (22.29) were 60th and 65th respectively. Cameron Miller, a junior at Louisville, won the event in 20.33.
In the men’s 60, McCoy clocked 6.69 for 12th place to book a lane in the semi-finals. However, he withdrew from competing in the event.
Curry also contested the 60m where he was 42nd in the preliminaries.
Shaun Miller Jr, a junior at Ohio State, also competed and was 16th in the men’s high jump with a leap of 6-7 (2.01m). Ushan Perera, a junior at Texas A&M, won the event 7-4 (2.25m).
Charlton victorious
115th Millrose Games
At the Nike Track & Field Center at the Amory in New York, Charlton posted a winning time of 7.91 seconds in the women’s 60m hurdles.
Tonea Marshall of Nike was second in a season’s best of 7.94.
Sharika Nelvis of adidas was third in 7.96.
“I felt pretty good overall. Just to come out with the win at this level is the most important thing,” Charlton said.
“I wished it would be a better time, but I don’t think the front half of my race was executed the way it could have been, but I am still happy with the win.”
The win came with her parents, Laura and David Charlton, in the stands cheering for her.
“It was really good to have them here,” said Charlton, who noted that it was the first meet they attended this year. “To come back on a field like that is very special. To come back on a field like that is an accomplishment and I’m glad that they got to see it.”
Charlton, 27, will now turn her focus on the outdoor season and the trek towards the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, August 19-27. She will take a few weeks off before she starts her outdoor campaign.
Andrews won hurdles
Jarvis Scott Open
At the Sports Performance Center in Lubbock, Texas, Antoine Andrews picked up the victory in the men’s 60m hurdles in 7.59. He was followed by Americans Taylor Rooney in 7.77 and Tyrin Lewis in 7.79.
Also, Lacarthea Cooper won the Final 3 of the women’s 400m in 54.85. Jamaica’s Shadae Findley was second in 54.87 and American Macklynn Land got third in 57.26.
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