The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

QUARTER-milers Shaunae Miller and Michael Mathieu, high jumpers Ryan Ingraham and LaQuan Nairn and sprinter Tynia Gaither led a Bahamian contingent of elite and collegiate athletes at the University of Miami Hurricanes’ Alumni Invitational over the weekend.

Representing Pure Athletics, Miller easily cruised to victory in the women’s 200 metres in 22.90 seconds at the meet in Coral Gables, Florida. Katrina Seymour, running unattached, was 10th overall in 24.33. While Miller opted not to compete in the 400m, Seymour got seventh in 55.39.

Competing by example for the Bahamas Spinners Track Club that he formed in Florida, Mathieu stopped the clock at 20.40 to snatch the victory in the men’s 200m over a number of Bahamians.

Deneko Brown was seventh in 21.33, Lavardo Smith 13th in 21.70, Yurick Dean of the College of the Bahamas 14th in 21.70, Grand Bahamian Ryan Penn, making a comeback, was 15th in 21.76 and Stefan Hall 19th in 22.12.

Mathieu, using the meet for his speed workout, also ran the 100m where he got second in 10.18 over a number of Bahamians. Deneko Brown ran 10.42 for fourth, Shane Jones was ninth in 10.57, Trevon Green was 14th in 10.70 and Cressy Dussard of the College of the Bahamas was 19th in 10.84.

Ryan Ingraham, leading the field of competitors from Leap of Faith, won the men’s high jump, clearing 2.21 metres or 7-feet, 03-inches. His young teammate Blayre Fernander was 10th with 1.94m (6-04 1/4).

CARIFTA standout LaQuan Nairn won the men’s long jump with 7.61m (24-11 3/4). Alfredo Smith, competing unattached, was second with 7.32m (24-0 3/4). Troy Bullard came in ninth with 6.71m (22-0 1/4).

Avery Thompson, of the College of the Bahamas, got disqualified in the men’s 110m hurdles, but he was second in the javelin with a heave of 47.91m (157-02).

The College of the Bahamas fielded a team in the men’s 4 x100m relay, finishing third in 41.29.

V’Alonee Robinson, now home training and competing for Club Monica, competed in three events. Her best showing came in the long jump where she was third with a best of 5.89m or 19-feet, 4-inches. On the track, she was seventh overall in the 100m in 11.75 and 10th in the 100m hurdles in 14.18.

CARIFTA double gold medallist Charisma Taylor was right behind Robinson in a three-woman field for the Bahamas in the long jump. The Leap of Faith competitor got fourth with 5.79m (190) and teammate Andira Ferguson was seventh with 5.25m (17-2 3/4). Taylor also soared 11.78m (38-7 3/4) for fourth place in the women’s triple jump.

The women’s high jump had five competitors with Kenya Culmer of Leap of Faith taking top honours with 1.70m (5-7). Vinisa Beneby, of the College of the Bahamas, was sixth with 1.65 (5-5), Deniesha Bagot of the College of the Bahamas 10th with 1.60m (5-3), the same height as Celina Thompson of Leap of Faith in 11th and CARIFTA standout Daejha Moss of Leap of Faith 13th with 1.55m (5-1).

Also on the field, Ashley Oembler of the College of the Bahamas came in second in the women’s discus with a toss of 43.62m (143-01) and her teammate Knastachia Cooper was sixth with 35.96m (118-0). Oember was also fifth in the women’s shot put with 11.37m (37-3 3/4), while Cooper was 20th with 9.64m (31-07 1/2).