The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

In just over 20 seconds, Teray Smith turned from the object of misguided public ridicule to one of the heroes of the Carifta Games with his gold medal performance in the U20 B 200m.

Smith raced to a gold medal in the half lap in a personal best time of 20.58s ahead of Jamaica’s Jevaughn Minzie in 20.64s and Trinidad and Tobago’s Jereem Richards in 20.69s.

Sunday night in the 4x100m, Smith came down the backstretch leading the field but fumbled the exchange with Ian Kerr which led to a dissappointing disqualification for Team Bahamas.

Social networks were busy for much of the night placing much of the burden for the team’s mishap on Smith’s shoulders.

“I knew I had an opportunity to get by what happened last night, it was on my exchange and I felt like I had a lot of making up to do to my team,” he said. “They couldn’t be out there in that race with me but I had to do it for them.”

It was a marked improvement from the 2012 edition of the games in Bermuda where Smith finished third in 21.18s.

“I just wanted to explode coming off the curve, I never counted my self out at any point, like I said I was determined headed into this race and finish strong. Everything was in place,” he said. “This being my second year in under 20 it’s an amazing finish to have in front of my family and the Bahamian people. The crowd was incredible, it gives you that extra push and I needed that because it was so close there at the end.”

Smith also finished sixth in the 100m in 10.60s. His mother, Terria Grant-Missick, was a top athlete in the Bahamas and went on to compete at Florida A & M University.

“I’m always really excited to come home for CARIFTA. My family was there to support me and that really meant a lot. My expectations are really high for my career and that includes running for the Bahamas in the 2016 Olympics.”