The Tribune

By TENAJH SWEETING

Tribune Sports Reporter

tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

Day one of the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA) Senior and Junior National Track & Field Championships got off to an exciting start at the original Thomas A Robinson stadium.

The day featured the return of many Bahamian professional athletes, including two-time Olympic gold medallist Shaunae Miller-Uibo, quarter-miler Steven Gardiner, sprinter Anthonique Strachan, and Grand Bahama’s Alonzo Russell.

With the event serving as a qualifier for the NACAC under-18 and under-23 championships, World Championships and Pan American Games, the athletes brought their best to the TAR stadium.

SENIORS

Anthonique Strachan emerged victorious in the women’s 100-metre finals for the senior division. She ran a time of 11.13 for first place.

Camille Rutherford finished behind with 11.40 and third place went to Denisha Cartwright of Minnesota State University.

Strachan talked about the win after a shaky start to the race.

“I was never known to be the best starter, so whenever I do get bad starts it does not really shake me. Right now, I am trying to train myself to stay calm under any circumstances,” she said.

The sprinter added that overall, she thinks her season is going good so far and is very excited with her progress and the direction that she is going in.

Miller-Uibo made her return to the track after giving birth to her son in February. The 400m sprinter will be competing in seven events over the course of three days for the heptathlon. Yesterday, she wrapped up the 100m hurdles with a time of 14.60. In the 200m race she finished with a time of 25.31 for first. She leaped to a height of 1.63m in the women’s high jump and finished the shot put event with a personal best (PB) throwing distance of 11.83 on her third attempt.

In the senior men’s 100 finals for the A group, Terrence Jones of Texas Tech put on a show running 10.15 to secure first place. Samson Colebrooke of the Atlanta Track Club finished second with 10.24 for a season best and Joel Johnson came third with a season best 10.37.

Jones talked about the win on home soil.

“I am pretty happy it’s always good to come home and win on the home track…I wasn’t really worried much about competitors, I just was worried about me versus me the whole race,” he said.

Although the collegiate athlete said it was hotter than he expected he felt blessed to compete in front of his home crowd.

Ian Kerr of AllStarz Athletix Mgmt finished the 100m finals for the B group with a season best of 10.44.

In his return to home soil Bahamian Olympian Steven Gardiner booked his ticket to the 400m finals after winning the semi-finals with a time of 45.95.

Gardiner talked about how it felt to be back.

“It feels good to be back home it’s been a while since I competed at the TAR stadium so it’s good to be back in front of the home crowd, fans, and everybody,” he said.

After running 45.95 in the semi-finals, Gardiner is looking to run somewhere within the 44 range in today’s 400m finals.

Desmond Major is the lone competing in the senior division’s decathlon.

JUNIORS

Adam Musgrove of Bahamas Speed Dynamics Elite not only beat his competitors in the 100m finals but also qualified for the 2023 Pan American Games with a time of 10.30. Andrew Styles of 90 Degrees finished second and Zion Campbell of Golden Eagles Track Club wrapped up in third.

Musgrove was filled with emotion talking about the win.

“It’s been a long season. It’s nothing like knowing what you are capable of but not reaching your full potential so I feel as if this was my best race in terms of reaching my full potential,” he said.

He added that despite a rocky start to the race he trusted his top end speed, stayed calm and patient and came out with the win.

In the 100m finals, Shatalya Dorsett edged out the younger Jamiah Nabbie in the under 18 sprint race. Dorsett punched her ticket to the NACAC U18 and U23 championships running a time of 11.60. Nabbie came in second with 11.63 and Shayann Demeritte of Swift Athletics followed with 12.10.

Dorsett said she is happy because throughout the whole season she was unable to get a personal best. She said throughout the heats she did not get a good start but she changed that in the finals and kept her composure for the win. Overall, she said it felt good to qualify and she is excited to be in Costa Rica.

Ishmael Rolle of Swift Athletics followed in Dorsett’s footsteps in the men’s race. He finished first with 10.68 to also qualify for the NACAC U18/U23 championships.

Rolle talked about day one’s win.

“It was good I did not get the start [that] I got in the heats. I had my goal set for 10.30 but I am glad that I am able to run and do my best,” he said.

Rolle added that it felt good to have people supporting him on the track.

Day two of the BAAAs junior and senior track and field championships will resume today at 5:30pm at the TAR stadium.