The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

After a year of rehabilitation from a knee injury he suffered at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, England, national triple jump record holder Leevan “Superman” Sands is back.

He made his return on Saturday as he competed in the men’s long jump at the War Eagle Invitational Meet in Auburn, Alabama.

“I felt great. It’s been a long time coming, having to go through all the pain and rehab. I just want to thank God for bringing me to this point, getting me back on the runway and having a chance to do what I love to do again,” he said.

“I just feel great. I want to thank all of the Bahamian fans, my family and friends who supported me through all of this ordeal. I’m back and I feel great. I had to work out the jitters. Last Monday, I had a slight problem with my hamstring. That was why I only took two jumps. I didn’t want to overdo it and push myself too hard and possibly hurt myself more. But I felt great.”

The 32-year-old 2008 Beijing Olympic bronze medallist, said he could not have done it without his parents, Elaine and Leevan Sands, and his wife, Danielle, who along with their children, and teammate, Chris ‘Fireman’ Brown, were in the stands cheering for him.

“My whole family was there,” he said. “It was great to have them there. They were all there when I got injured, so they were happy to see me back and running down the runway again.”

While he has no timetable for his return to the triple jump, Sands is hoping to compete again in the long jump in Trinidad & Tobago and Guadeloupe in May.

Also at the meet were a number of Bahamians who competed both in the collegiate segment and unattached. Anthonique Strachan, running unattached, won the women’s 100 metres in 11.33 seconds, followed by V’Alonee Robinson, a senior at Auburn, in 11.46.

In the preliminaries of the straight-away race, Robinson had the fastest qualifying time of 11.34. Strachan had the third best in 11.58, while Nivea Smith was ninth in 11.84. Strachan also posted a sprint double when she took the 200m in 22.78. Right on her heels was Sheniqua ‘Q’ Ferguson in 23.10. Rashan Brown, a sophomore at the University of Georgia, was fourth in 23.75, while Lanece Clarke, also unattached, came eighth in 23.90.

Clarke also contested the 400m, running 54.69 for third place. Amara Jones, also unattached, was 11th in 56.31.

In the women’s 100m hurdles, Krystal Bodie got fourth in 13.52 after she ran 13.58 for the fourth fastest qualifying time as well in the preliminaries. Robinson also ran the third leg on Auburn’s team that won the women’s 4 x 100m relay in 44.80.

On the field, Bianca Stuart cleared 6.60 metres or 21-feet, 8-inches for the victory in the women’s long jump. Her best performance came on her second attempt.

In other events on the men’s side, Auburn’s freshman Teray Smith was seventh in the 100m in 10.52 secs. Jamial Rolle had the sixth fastest qualifying time of 10.40, followed by Smith in 10.43. Smith also contested the 200m where he was second in 20.76.