The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WITH the International Amateur Athletic Federation’s inaugural World Relays just around the corner, the Auburn sprint connection of Anthonique Strachan and Sheniqua ‘Q’ Ferguson are showing that they are ready to make their contribution for Team Bahamas.

Competing at the Cayman Invitational on Wednesday in Georgetown, Cayman Islands, Strachan maintained her position in lane eight to coast to victory in 22.78 seconds. The time erased the meet record of 23.30 that was set by American Tianna Madison.

In pulling off the win, Strachan overcame a strong field that saw American Porscha Lucas trail in 23.21 for second and Jamaican Sherry-Ann Brooks in third in 23.33.

Strachan, now en route to Asia to compete in the first two meets of the IAAF World Challenge in Tokyo, Japan (May 11) and Shanghai, China (May 18) before she comes home for the IAAF World Relays (May 24-25), was just short of her season’s best of 22.59 that she posted on April 5 in Auburn, Alabama.

According to coach Henry Rolle, Strachan is “in good shape. I expected her to run faster than she did, but she didn’t get the start she needed. After a sluggish first 20 metres, she really picked it up and ran very well off the curve. She still had a good run. She’s starting to come into her own.”

The next best performance by a Bahamian was done by IAAF World Indoor 400m bronze medallist Shaunae Miller, who ran 22.87 at a meet in Athens, Georgia on April 13.

Also at the meet, Lanece Clarke had to settle for fourth in the women’s 400m in 54.06. Jamaica got a 1-2 finish from Novlene Williams-Mills in 50.26 and Bobby-Gay Wilkins-Gooden in 52.93. Canadian Jenna Martin was third in 53.91.

Wesley Neymour followed in the men’s 400m, but he could muster no better than sixth in 46.42. Trinidad & Tobago’s Machel Cedenio won the race in 45.23 with American Torrin Lawrence finishing second in 45.34 and Jamaican Dane Hyatt in third in 45.70.

Cache Armbrister, now training in Jamaica, competed in the women’s 100m, but she failed to finish the race that was won by American Jeneba Tarmoh in 11.14, just ahead of Muriel Ahoure of the Ivory Coast in 11.15. Great Britain’s Asha Phillip was third in 11.19.

In another meet in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Wednesday as well, Sheniqua Ferguson won the 100m in 11.3 and got second in the 200m in 22.97. Warren Fraser was entered in the men’s 100m, but he failed to finish the race. Their performances came four days after they appeared in action at the Grande Premier International Meet in Sao Paulo, Brazil on Sunday.

Ferguson duplicated her time of 22.97 for second in the women’s 200m. The race was won by Franciela das Garcas Krasucki Davide of Brazil in 22.82. “She is in great shape to run the 100 metres,” said Rolle, who also trains Ferguson in Auburn.

“We’ve been going through the 200 metres to help her for the 100 metres. But she is running very well in the 200 metres, so that should really help her to perform even better in the 100 metres.”

Before coming home for the World Relays, Ferguson, whom Rolle feels is capable of running 11.2 or better in her specialty, is expected to compete in a US Grand Prix Meet on May 17.

Fraser, who trains out of Tallahassee, Florida, was seventh in the men’s 200m in 21.00. Host Brazil had a clean sweep of the top three spots. Winning the race was Jorge Henrique da Costa Vildes in 20.38, Aldemir Gomes da Silva Junior was second in 20.51 and Jefferson Liberato Lucindo was third in 20.54.

Five Bahamian male athletes have ran faster than Fraser in the half-lap race. Trevorvano Mackey leads the pack with 20.47 in Lubbock, Texas on May 3. Shavez Hart ran 20.50 on March 22 in San Antonio, Texas, while ‘Golden Knight’ Ramon Miller did 20.59 in Miami, Florida on April 12, Steven Gardiner clocked 20.66 on April 5 at the final CARIFTA trials and Blake Bartlett has done 20.74 on May 3 in Lubbock, Texas.

Also at the meet in Brazil was Jamal Wilson, who cleared 2.21 metres or 7-feet, 3-inches for second place. Eure Yanez of Venezuela won the event with a leap of 2.27m or 7-5 1/4.

Wilson’s jump was the third best by a Bahamian so far this year. Ryan Ingraham, a finalist at the IAAF World Indoors, has the best mark of 2.26m (7-5) that he recorded on April 23 in Athens, Georgia.

Trevor Barry, back in action after going down with an injury late last year, did 2.25m (7-4 1/2) on April 25 in Des Moines, Idaho.

Today, Donald Thomas will be the lone Bahamian in action as he competes in the opening of the Diamond League in Doha. Thomas, who failed to clear a height at the IAAF World Indoors after he experienced some problems with a tooth, will be one of 11 competitors in the men’s high jump.