The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

RAYMOND Higgs may not have gotten the results he desired, but he will leave the University of Arkansas with some more credentials he achieved by highlighting the Bahamian contingent in key match-ups at the NCAA Division One Outdoor Track and Field Championships over the weekend in Eugene, Oregon.

The weekend, however, had some mixed results for two elite quarter-milers Shaunae Miller and Chris ‘Fireman’ Brown as they competed at the Adidas Grand Prix in New York City.

Higgs took third place for the Razorbacks in his specialty in the men’s long jump with a leap of 7.68 metres or 25-feet, 21/30-inches. The event was won by Marquis Dendy, a junior at Florida, with 8.00m (26-3).

Higgs also contested the men’s triple jump where he placed 23rd with his best leap of 15.37m (50-52/4). Dendy ended up with a super meet, winning his second title in the vertical jumps with 17,05m (55-11 3/4).

While he wasn’t available for comments, on the Razorbacks’ website, assistant coach Travis Geopfert was singing the praises of the tremendous leadership that he provided for Arkansas.

“Higgs always gives his best effort on the track and finished his career as a 6X All-American, 3X SEC Champion and 2012 Olympian,” stated Geopfert. “His competitiveness always elevated our jumper’s performances and he will always be remembered as one of the best competitors that I’ve personally coached. I’m very proud of his efforts and how he’s developed and matured through his career as a Razorback.”

For the first time in NCAA history, two Bahamian women went head-to-head in both the long and triple jumps as Zinna Miller, a senior at Iowa and Tamara Myers, a junior at Arkansas, splitting their decisions in their encounters.

In the long jump, Miller got the better of the deal when she closed out her collegiate career by earning All-American honours with her eighth place with 6.25m (20-6 1/4). Myers had to settle for 14th with 6.15m (20-2 1/4).

Jenna Prandini, a sophomore of Oregon, took the title with 6.55m (21-6).

Myers, however, bounced back on Friday when she popped 12.79m (41-11 1/2) for 12th. Miller was three places behind in 15th spot with 12.74m (41-9 3/4).

Shanieka Thomas, a senior at San Diego State, carted off the title with 14.00m (45-11 1/4).

On the track, Tynia Gaither, competing for the University of South Carolina, led the way. In the women’s 200m final on Saturday, she was sixth in 23.05. Winning the race was Kamaria Brown, a junior at Texas A&M in 22.63.

Gatiher came through with the seventh fastest qualifying time of 23.17 on Thursday.

Gaither, however, had to settle for eighth in the final of the women’s 100m in 11.73 on Friday. Remona Burchell, a junior at Alabama, won the race in 11.25.

In the semis on Thursday, Gaither came tied for sixth place with Texas A&M sophomore Jennifer Madu in 11.23 to advance to the final.

The men’s 100m final also on Friday saw Shavez Hart finish fifth in 10.15. The junior at Texas A&M was in a race that saw Trayvon Bromell, a freshman at Baylor, stopped the clock in a sizzling 9.97.

In Thursday’s semifinal, Hart was 10th overall, but he was given the eighth and final spot after he posted one of the six automatic qualifying time when he ran 10.18.

While they both missed out on an appearance in the final, Hart and Teray Smith had to rely on a photo finish to cling onto the 10th and 14th spots in the semifinals of the men’s 200m on Thursday.

Hart ran 20.90 (20.895) to edge out Ohio State junior Timothy Faust, who ran 20.90 (20.898). Smith, a freshman at Auburn, was timed in 20.94 (20.035) for 13th spot, just ahead of Calvin Nkanata, a senior at Pittsburgh, who did 20.94 (20.940) for 14th.

At the end of the four-day meet, Arkansas was 9th on the women’s side with 21.50 points. USA was tied for 16th with Florida with 15. Iowa was tied with eight others in 59 points as Miller scored ther only point. Texas A&M won with 75.

Texas A&M, the alma mater of quarter-miler Demetrius Pinder, was third on the men’s side with 41.50. Auburn was tied with six others for 24th with 10, but Ohio State didn’t score a point to get on the scoreboard that was led by Oregon with 88.

MILLER PULLED UP/

BROWN SENSATIONAL

Over at the Adidas Grand Prix in New York City on Saturday, there was some concern coming out of Shaunae Miller’s camp, while the jubilation swells for Chris Brown as the elite quarter-milers came up with varied results.

Miller, who had opted not to compete in the IAAF inaugural World Relays here last month at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium because of a nagging hamstring injury, moved down to the 200m where she was working on her slow comeback.

However she wasn’t able to complete race that was won by Tianna Bartolette in 22.68 as she led an American sweep of the top four spots. It’s not known if she will be available to compete at the upcoming BAAA Nationals in two weeks or the Commonwealth Games next month in Glasgow, Scotland.

Brown, on the other hand, continued to turn in impressive performances at 35 as he showed signs of “getting better with age like fine wine,” producing a season’s best of 44.61 to place third in the men’s 400m.

Winning the race was American LaShawn Merritt in a meet record of 44.19. Wayde Van Niekerk of the Republic of South Africa was second in a national record time of 44.39.