The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

FOR the second consecutive year, even as he moved up in the age group division, LaQuan Nairn emerged as a double medallist on the field for Team Bahamas.

Competing before the home crowd in the new Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium on Sunday night, Nairn picked up the first medal on the field with his gold in the under-20 boys’ long jump with a leap of 7.40 metres or 24-feet, 3 1/2-inches.

The feat came a day after he had to settle for the bronze in the high jump on Saturday, clearing a height of 2.11m or 6-11 as he duplicated last year’s initial appearance in the top regional junior track and field meet with a pair of medals - both bronze - in the two events last year in Hamilton, Bermuda.

“I just want to thank God for my coach (James Rolle), who has been there with me through thick and thin and my parents for supporting me,” Nairn said. “I’m just thankful for the support of the crowd and everybody. I really did it for the Bahamian people.”

Nairn, who follows a long list of local competitors who converted from basketball to athletics, said his goal this year was to secure the double gold medal, but he wasn’t disappointed in falling short.

“Things happen,” he said.

Unfortunately for Nairn, he suffered a slight setback when his marker was blown away off the run way when one of his rival competitors stepped on it.

“My coach just told me to adjust by taking eight strides and curving,” Nairn said. “So I was running without any approach. I was running off natural ability. But I guarantee you that if my marker was still there, I was going to win the gold.”

Determined not to let the performance hamper his spirit, Niarn bounced back on Sunday and made amends as he made sure that the goal didn’t get away from him this time around in the long jump.

“My coach told me not to worry about it and the officials told me not to get mad because these things happen,” Nairn said. “I told them I was coming back and I was going to win the gold in the long jump.”

With the tremendous support from the near capacity 15,000 seating arena cheering him on, Nairn lived up to his expectations. “I love the crowd and I love to put on a show for the crowd,” he said. “I went out there and did what I had to do to win.”

While he was considered a major threat as a hometown favourite in his specialty in the high jump, Nairn said the competition was anticipated from Jamaican Clive Pullen, who ended up with the silver with 7.38m or 24-2 1/2.

“Nobody was expecting the Jamaican jumper to lose because he was the man in Jamaica,” Nairn said. “But I guess it was my time to shine. I stayed humble and I had a point to prove after I missed out on the gold in the high jump.”

As the most consistent member of the team returning from last year,

Nairn said all of the hard work with Rolle has paid off. “This is my second time in Carifta and I won two medals for the second time,” he said. “I’ve improved a lot in both of my jumps. Before the games, my PR (personal best) in the high jump was 2.10 and I did 2.11.

In the long jump, my PR was 7.3 and I did 7.4. So next year, I’m going for the gold.”

Having qualified for both the IAAF World Youth Championships, in Donetsk, Ukraine, in July and the Pan-American Junior Championships in Lima, Peru, in August, Nairn said he’s now preparing for the two major international meets when he intends to go for the gold.