The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE indoor track and field circuit came to a close over the weekend as Bahamians made their mark competing for their respective schools at the NCAA Division One and Two Indoor Championships.

In Albuquerque, New Mexico, at the NCAA Division One Championships, five Bahamians participated with sprinter Tynia Gaither leading the way. Gaither, a junior at the University of South Carolina, came in seventh in the women’s 60m final in 23.25s. The winning time was 22.75. Gaither ran 23.41 for the sixth and final spot in the preliminaries.

On the men’s side, Shavez Hart didn’t advance out of the men’s 60m preliminaries for Texas A&M University after his time of 21.32s for second place in heat four was only good enough for 14th overall. The eighth and final qualifying time was 20.77. Hart also ran 6.73 for second in the eighth heat, but that left him in the final spot on the qualifying round at No. 16. The eighth and final spot was timed in 6.64s.

On the field, Raymond Higgs attempted to close out the indoor chapter of his sting at the University of Arkansas in his specialty in the men’s long jump. The senior was 12th in the final with a leap of 7.54m or 24-feet, 9-inches. The winning jump was 8.39m (27-6 1/2).

Higgs’ junior team-mate, Tamara Myers attempted the deuce in the women’s long and triple. The Andros native’s best showing came in the long jump where she was 10th with 6.11m (20 1/2). The winning jump was 6.73m (22-1). In her specialty in the triple jump, she had to settle for 16th place with 12.15m (39-10 1/2). The winning jump was 13.97m (45-10).

And Kenya Culmer, making her first national appearance in her senior year for Southern Illinois University, could only muster a leap of 1.73m (5-8) for a 16th place in her specialty in the women’s high jump. The winning mark was 1.87m (6-1 1/2).

At the NCAA’s in Winston Salem, North Carolina, three Bahamians were in action. Deneko Brown, a senior at Southwest Baptist College, led the way as he ran 6.76 for second place in the men’s 60m.

Dennis Bain, also a senior at Claflin, was second in the men’s 60m in 7.79s. The winning time was 7.78s by Ty’reak Murray, a senior at St Augustine’s in 7.78s.

Their performances came after a number of Bahamians produced some impressive showings at the National Junior College Indoor Championships over the weekend of March 9-10 in The Armory, New York, NY.

The performances were overshadowed by the silver and bronze medal feats from Chris ‘Fireman’ Brown and Shaunae Miller in the men’s and women’s 400m at the same time at the IAAF 15th World Indoor Championships in Sopot, Poland, the same weekend.

Here’s a glance at their performances:

Racquel Williams, national champion in the women’s shot put for Coffeyville College. Her throw of 15.01m (49-03) was well ahead of second place 14.20m (46-07). However, in the weight throw, Williams was seventh with 14.98m (15.03). The winning throw was 17.13m (56-02).

It was a twin affair in the men’s triple jump for Iowa-Western as Latario Collie-Minns popped the winning leap of 16.80m (55-01 1/2) on his second attempt as his brother, Lathone Collie-Minns took second place with 15.87m (52-10).

On the track, Ashley Riley and Andre Colebrooke provided the spark with their triumphs, while O’Jay Ferguson just fell short of making a triple feat at the top of the podium.

Riley, competing for Colby College, got his national title in the men’s 600m in 1:18.67. He had the second fastest qualifying time of 1:19.62.

In the men’s 800m, Essex Community College’s Andre Colebrooke continued to put up the impressive times, taking his national title in 1:51.35. He went in with the fourth fastest qualifying time of 1:55.10.

O’Jay Ferguson, also competing for Essex Community College, was second in the men’s 400m. His time of 47.46 trailed the winner’s 47.29. Ferguson had the second fastest qualifying time of 47.69.

Colebrooke and Ferguson teamed up on the third and anchor legs for Essex as they took third place in the men’s 4x400m relay in 3:14.09. Riley was on the third leg for Colby as they ended up 5th in 3:14.43.