The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Reeporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

Quarter-miler Ramon Miller is back. Fully recuperated from a fractured toe on his left foot that he sustained in the first round of the men’s 4 x 400 metres at the inaugural World Relays last year, Miller proved that he’s on the road to getting back in tip-top shape just in time for the second edition of the relays next month.

At the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ National High School Relays at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium on Friday night, Miller clocked 46.35 seconds to win the men’s 100 metre individual race, which was used as a qualifier for Team Bahamas for the relays.

It wasn’t as fast as he anticipated, but Miller said he will take it, considering the conditions that he competed in.

“First of all, I want to thank the Lord for allowing me to get around the track,” said Miller in his first race since the injury. “Thank God I was able to come out and get around the track. The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step and today was my first step towards that journey in getting back and getting back in top form.”

Miller, the 28-year-old newly wed, took control of the race coming off the first curve and opened up a gap on the back stretch before Wesley Neymour managed to cut off some of the real estate as he took second place in 47.24. Oral Roberts was a distant third in 50.48.

The race was one of four that the BAAA inserted into its line-up at the relays. Winning the women’s one lap race was Katrina Seymour, while V’Alonee Robinson and Deneko Brown were the 100m champions.

Miller, best remembered for his fantastic anchor leg that helped Team Bahamas to clinch the victory in the 4 x400m at the 2012 Olympic Games over the United States in London, said he had some great practice sessions with coach Tyrone Burrows and he was eager to show the Bahamian public that he’s back.

“Unfortunately, I warmed up about two hours ago and there was such a long delay and my energy and my body went down, but being a professional athlete, I tried to keep it as high as I could,” he said.

“I wanted to show the Bahamian people that I could get around the track and I’m on my way back. This is a good indication to show everybody where I’m at. I wanted to run faster, but it was good to just get the cobweb in a blowout.”

The former CR Walker and Dickinson State standout who won a 400m bronze medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games and has a personal best of 44.87, is looking forward to reuniting with his Golden Knights team-mates this weekend at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia where they are the defending champions before they return home for the World Relays May 2-3.

Like Miller, Seymour established command of the women’s race coming off the first bend and she was never challenged as she pulled away from Felicity Dorsette to easily take the tape in 56.05. Dorsette closed out the two-woman field in 1:01.46.

“The race was pretty good. I got out and I finished the race with no injury,” she said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity and I’m hoping that my performance tonight would get me a spot on the 4x400 relay team. If I do, I’m looking forward to running with my team-mates and hopefully help the Bahamas win the gold.”

In the short race, V’Alonee Robinson sped to victory in the women’s 100m in 12.11, well ahead of her training partner, high hurdles specialist Krystal Bodie, who was second in 12.30. 

“It’s always a good opportunity to compete at home,” Robinson said.

“When you’re on your home soil, it’s an advantage, but it’s harder when you don’t have the competition. I feel I’m getting better, but it’s hard to get into the meets without any funding, so I’m just trying to take advantage of any races that I can get into.”

The St Augustine’s College graduate, who went on to compete for Auburn University with Bodie, was coming of her first international meet last week in Florida.

“It was hectic because I was between the 100, the hurdles and the long jump, so it was back and forth,” Robinson said. “Through all of that, I think I still managed to perform very well. I just want us to go out there and do our best as we represent the Bahamas.”

Deneko Brown, winner of the men’s straight away race in 10.58, had to miss the initial World Relays because of an injury. It also turned out to be his first time competing in the new stadium and he was quite thrilled by his performance.

“I love it. This track is fast,” said Brown, a graduate of Southwest Baptist Community College last year. “When I graduated, I knew there were going to be a lot of (international) meets coming up, so I just focused on training since June. God is good. I missed last year’s outdoors with a hamstring injury, but my mother told me that sometimes God has something better in store for me. That’s probably why I didn’t compete last year.”

Also competing in the race were Shane Jones, who took second place in 10.60 and Lavardo Smith, the third place finisher in 10.74.

Brown also contested the 200m where he had to settle for fourth in 23.40. Jones got revenge by stopping the clock in 21.62. Tyler Bowe was second in 22.10 and Yurick Dean took third in 22.37.