The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

OVER the last few weeks, the Bahamian athletes have shared the spotlight in a number of meets, including the Auburn Tiger Track Classic at the Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama, and at the Spec Towns National Team Invitational at the Spec Towns Track in Athens, Georgia.

At the Auburn Tigers Track Classic, held over the weekend of April 4-5, sprinters Sheniqua ‘Q’ Ferguson, Anthonique Strachan and Jamial Rolle, along with long jumper Bianca ‘BB’ Stuart, all stood out in their respective events.

They were followed by another crop of competitors, led by high jumper Ryan Ingraham, quartermiler Rashan Brown and sprinter Shaunae Miller at the Spec Towns National Team Invitational April 12-13.

At the Spec Towns National Team Invitational, Ingraham, competing for Puma, soared 2.26 metres or 7-feet, 5-inches, for his victory in the men’s high jump. Ingraham’s performance has him tied for fourth place on the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) listing so far this year.

Brown led a 1-2 punch for the Bahamas in the women’s 400m. Brown, a native of Grand Bahama competing for the University of Georgia, won the one-lap race in 53.77, followed by unattached Lanece Clarke in second in 54.23. Amara Jones, also unattached, was 10th in 55.99. None of the times, however, made the top listing.

In the men’s race, Grand Bahamian Andrae Williams, running unattached, was sixth in 47.86, but he failed to get on the top performance list.

Dropping all the way down to the 100m, Miller, the World Indoor 400m bronze medallist competing for Adidas, won the race in 11.40. She is now 21st on the list. Grand Bahamian Nivea Smih, competing unattached, was fourth in 11.75, but it didn’t make the top list.

Miller also doubled up in the 200m, taking the tape in 22.87, well ahead of four other Bahamians. Her time is listed at No.5. Smith was second in 23.45 for 48th on the list. Brown got third in 23.70, Clark was fourth in 23.79 and Jones was ninth in 24.66, but neither made the list.

Tynia Gaither, who competed in Gainesville, Florida, on April 4, is 10th with her time of 22.99 that she ran for her victory in the half-lap race.

Ferguson, a graduate of Auburn now competing unattached, won the women’s 100 metres in 11.31 seconds. Her time is listed at No.13 on the IAAF list.

V’Alonee Robinson, a senior at Auburn, was third in 11.67, but she didn’t make the top 30. Gaither, however, was second in the 100m in 11.41 in Gainesville, which is tied for 22nd.

Anthonique Strachan, also competing unattached, won the women’s 200m in 22.59 in Auburn to post the second fastest time so far this year.

In the 100m hurdles, Auburn graduate Krystal Bodie, competing unattached, was seventh in 13.75. Her time didn’t make the top performance list.

The Auburn Elite won the women’s 4 x 100m relay in 44.48, while Robinson led off the Auburn A team that finished second in 45.61.

On the field, Bianca Stuart, competing unattached, cleared 6.44 metres or 21-feet, 1 1/2-inches to win the women’s long jump. She is now tied for ninth on the performance list.

On the men’s side, Jamial Rolle, also competing unattached, clocked 10.47 for his victory in the 100m. He didn’t make the top list that has Grand Bahamian Shavez Hart pegged in a three-way tie for 24th in 10.24 after he won his race in San Antonio, Texas, on March 21.

Rolle, however, had to settle for third in the 200m in 20.96, bit that didn’t get him on the top performance list.

In his meet in San Antonio, Hart ran 20.50 to sit in 17th place.

And Steven Gardiner, who ran an impressive 20.66 at the BAAA CARIFTA Trials on April 5, is tied with three others for 29th.