The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

ANTHONIQUE Strachan raced to a fourth place finish in the women’s 200 metres, while Chris ‘the Fireman’ Brown and the men’s 4 x 400 metre relay team had to settle for third place as the Americas team relinquished their title to Europe as the 12th IAAF Continental Cup came to a close on Sunday.

Both athletes were in action on the last of the two days of competition at the Marrakesh (Le Grande Stade) in Marrakesh, Morocco, as Europe took the crown with 447.50 points. The Americas team ended up second with 390. Africa got third with 339 and the Asia-Pacific completed the four team package with 257.50.

The IAAF Continental Cup, formerly known as the IAAF World Cup, is an international athletics competition which comprises track and field events with athletes representing entire continents, rather than just those of individual nations and is held every four years.

Strachan, running out of lane one, made up some ground on the home stretch to finish the women’s 200m in 22.73 seconds as one of the two representatives for the Americas. American Joanna Atkins, the other member of the Americas team, was second in 22.53.

“I had lane one and it was a little tough,” Strachan said. “Everything went well and I’m just happy that the season is ended. I’m tired. I’m so tired.”

The race was won by Netherlands’ Dafne Schippers of Europe in 22.28. Taking third place ahead of Strachan was Frenchwoman Myriam Soumare, also of Europe, in 22.58.

As one of two Bahamians from the 15 countries representing the Americas, Strachan said she was thrilled to be able to make her contribution.

“It was awesome. We looked so unique together because it’s rare to see Bahamians, Jamaicans, Cubans, Colombians and Americans all fighting for the same course and competing on the same team.

“We all have the same drive and we all motivated each other, even the set that can’t speak Spanish, to try and communicate with the Hispanic athletes and the Hispanic athletes try to speak to the athletes they know who speak English, asking them to speak to us. It was exciting to be with a different mix of athletes who we used to compete against on the team with them.”

For her effort, Strachan was awarded $7,000.

In the men’s 4 x 4 relay that brought the curtain down on the meet, Brown ran the second leg on the Americas team that had Puerto Rico’s 400m hurdler Javier Culson on pop off, veteran sprinter Kim Collins from Grenada on third and former Olympic and two-time world champion LaShawn Merritt on anchor.

Culson replaced American Gil Roberts, who didn’t show up and Colins replaced Olympic silver medallist Leguelin Santos, who was unable to compete because of an injury he sustained in the 400m final that was won by Merritt in 44.60.

The Americas team ran 3:02.78 for third. Africa took the title in 3:00.02 and the silver went to Europe in 3:00.70. Brown and the Americas team had to split $10,000 for their performance.

“In all things, I give God thanks and praise. I feel a little saddened and disappointed with the original team that was supposed to be here and also for Santos, who went down with an injury,” Brown said.

“That really put a dent in our line up, but hats off to Kim Collins. We really didn’t have anybody else and he stepped in to help us out. We put the best team possible out there. We got third. We really wanted to win, but this just wasn’t our day.”

Culson had given the Americans a marginal lead at the first change with Britain’s Conrad Williams just behind him. Brown kept Poland’s Jakub Krzewina at bay but had to relinquish the lead to Isaac Makwala, the Botswanan running a storming leg in his third event of the weekend to hand over in first place for Africa.

Collins set off in pursuit of Saviour Kambo on the third leg but faded badly in the closing stages as Israel’s European silver medallist Donald Sanford came past to put Rooney in touching distance of van Niekerk.

Rooney is a seasoned relay runner who carried Britain to victory at the European Championships last month, and he looked certain to win again when he attacked down the home straight.

But van Niekerk was having none of it. Spurred on by the excited crowd, he gritted his teeth to bring Africa home for only their second ever win at this event, the first coming way back in 1992.

Brown, the Bahamian 400m national record holder, said it was good to be a part of the Americas team, which afforded him the opportunity to gel with other athletes from other countries in an unique setting.

“I think we need more meets like this where we can come together and unify and unite as one,” he said. “I think it’s a good thing and something that we need to continue to keep the sport alive.”