The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

SPRINTER Derrick Atkins and quarter-miler Chris ‘Fireman’ Brown were fifth and seventh in their respective events as the only two Bahamians to compete in the Prefontaine Classic IAA Diamond League meet at Track City USA in Eugene, Oregon at the weekend.

Atkins, the 29-year-old 1999 World Championship silver medalist, ended up fifth in the 100 metres in 10.08. The race was swept by Americans with 31-year-old Justin Gatlin, the 2004 Olympic gold medalist, taking the tape in 9.88. Michael Rodgers, the 28-year-old 2010 World Indoor 60m silver medalist, ran 9.94 for second and Ryan Bailey, the rising new star at 24, was third in 10.00.

Jamaican Nesta Carter, the 27-year-old 2012 World Indoor 60m silver medalist, came in ahead of Atkins in 10.03.

In the men’s 400 metres, Brown clocked 45.85 seconds as he trailed the hotly contested field that saw American former World and Olympic champion LaShawn Merritt, who turns 27 on June 27, win in a season’s best of 44.32. Kirani James, the 20-year-old reigning World and Olympic champion from Grenada, was second in 44.39 and American Tony McQuay took third in 45.31.

McQuay, 23, ran the exceptional third leg on the American 4 x 400 relay team that had to settle for the silver medal at the 2012 Olympic Games behind the Bahamas team, led by Brown.

“The race just great. I’m just thankful. I went in healthy and came out healthy,” said Brown, who competed for the first time since he ran on the Bahamas men’s 4 x 400 relay team that participated at the Penn Relays last month.

“I felt good warming up. My legs were not turning over as I expected.

“I think I was a little flat. I couldn’t push as I wanted it. It was my first race and I really didn’t want to push it.”

After the race, which could be looked at as a prelude to the final of the IAAF World Championships in Athletics in Moscow, Russia in August, Brown said he felt even better and could have probably ran a little faster than he did. But he admitted that he didn’t want to take any chances.

“Normally, the field didn’t bother me even thought they had about three or four meets already,” he noted.

“I would have definitely liked to perform better, but my legs were not able to turn over the way I wanted it, so I was put in an awkward position. It shows me what I need to do in my future meets. I just have to make sure that everything is on point so that I can get on the podium.”

Brown, 34, is heading to Rome, Italy today to compete in his next meet on Thursday.

“I’m in great shape. The competition was there. It was a great environment,” he said.

“Everybody was ready to run. I told everyone in the race that we will meet again. I just want them to let me get in two or three more races under my belt and I’m be good to go again. I just hope to learn from this.”