The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

Already one of the most decorated junior sprinters in Bahamian history, Anthonique Strachan delivered yet another historic performance on day two of the 14th IAAF World Junior Championship in Athletics.

Strachan took the gold medal in the women’s 100m with a new world junior leading time of 11.20s at the event in Barcelona, Spain, yesterday. Nimet Karakus of Turkey was second in 11.36s, while Taramiz Liz of Brazil was third in 11.45s.

Strachan came into the final with the fifth fastest qualifying time when she won heat two in 11.68s, while Liz’ time of 11.42s took heat three. She became the second consecutive Bahamian sprinter to win a gold medal at the World Junior Championships after Shaunae Miller took the women’s 400m in Moncton, Canada, in 2010.

Strachan, who left St Augustine’s College to complete high school and train in Henry Rolle’s elite training camp in Auburn, has seen her performances peak this season, teaming with athletes like Jamaica’s Kerron Stewart and Bahamians Leevan ‘Superman’ Sands, Sheniqua ‘Q’ Ferguson and Nivea Smith.

She was a double gold medallist in the 100m and 200m at the 2011 CARIFTA Games, and followed in 2012 to repeat the feat.

Both performances earned her the Austin Sealy trophy, awarded to the game’s most outstanding athlete.

Her last international medal outside the Caribbean region came at the 2011 Pan American Junior Athletics Championships when she won gold in the 200m in a time of 22.70s which set a world junior leading time and a new championship record.

On the opposite side of the 100m in Barcelona, Teray Smith finished fourth in semifinal one with a time 10.44s, failing to advance to Wednesday’s final.

The Bahamas will have another opportunity to medal when defending champion Shaunae Miller and Rashan Brown take to the final of the women’s 400m on Friday. 

Brown took heat one in 54.02s, well ahead of her nearest competitor, Alina Galitskaya of Russia, who finished second in 54.55s. Miller was the fastest qualifier to advance after she took heat four in 52.71s. Patrycia Wyciszkiewicz of Poland was second in 52.76s.

In the men’s quartermile, O’Jay Ferguson failed to reach the final when he finished sixth in semifinal two in 47.02s. Arman Hall of the USA took the heat in 46.42s.

In the field, Ryan Ingraham easily advanced to the final of the high jump after an impressive performance in the qualification round. Ingraham was the top jumper in group B at 2.17m, which was posted on just his second attempt in the competition after he entered at 2.14 for his opening jump. The former basketball player for the CI Gibson Rattlers has a season’s and personal best of 2.28m.

On the schedule for the Bahamas today will be the 400mH and 200m, as Strachan chases the sprint double. She will run out of lane five in heat three and has posted a season’s best time of 22.75s.

Carmeisha Cox will run in lane four of heat one. Her season’s best time is 23.43s

In the men’s 200m, Blake Bartlett (SB of 20.89s) will run in lane two of heat two, while Teray Smith (SB of 20.88s) will run in lane nine of heat four.

In the 400mH, Pedra Seymour (SB of 1:00.18s) will run in lane six of heat four and Devinn Cartwright (SB of 59.44s) will run in lane seven of heat three.