The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

SHAUNAE Miller’s decision to step back to the 200 metres on Friday at the IAAF Diamond League Meet in Monaco may not have helped her confidence or her decision on which event to run going into the World Championships in Beijing, China, next month.

Miller, one of two Bahamians competing in the meet, came off the curve in lane six out of contention. She struggled onto the straight, where Nigeria's Blessing Okagbare-Ighoteguonor ran across into her lane, forcing Miller to shut down with about 60m to go and jogged across the finish line in a time of 28.28 seconds.

There was no indication whether she had suffered an injury, or whether she was affected by the interference by Okagbare-Ighoteguonor, who was ahead of her. Miller freely walked to greet the other competitors once she had finished the race, which was won by American Candyce McGrone in a personal best of 22.08, while Okagbare-Ighoteguonor was disqualified.

McGrone’s time turned out to be the second fastest this year behind fellow American Allyson Felix’s 21.98. Dafne Schippes, of the Netherlands, was second in a season’s best of 22.09, which is now third on the 2015 world’s fastest list, and American Jeneba Tarmoh was third in a personal best of 22.23.

Miller, who has now dropped to fourth on the world performance list in the half-lap race, opted not to contest the 400m, which was won by Diamond League leader Francena McCorory, of the United States, in a world leading time for the year of 49.83 seconds.

In becoming just the third Bahamian to dip under the 50-second barrier when she ran 49.92 on in her last one lap race in Lausanne on July 9, Miller trails only McCorory, who has recorded the top three fastest times in the quarter mile this year. Miller and her management team have yet to make an announcement in which event she will compete at the world championships. Many believe that she may lean more towards the 400m rather than the 200m.

Also at the meet was Bianca ‘BB’ Stuart, who had to settle for eighth place in the women’s long jump with a best leap of 6.49 metres (21ft 3 1/2in) on her fourth attempt. It was considered a sub-par performance for Stuart, whose series of jumps included a scratch, 6.46m (21ft 2 1/2in), 6.43m (21ft1 1/4in), 4.39m (14ft 5in) and 6.29m (20ft 7 3/4in).

Ivana Spanovic, of Serbia, won with 6.87m (22ft 6 1/2in) on her first attempt. American Tianna Bartoletta, the Diamond League leader, was second with 6.76m (22ft 2 1/2in) on the last of her six jumps. Great Britain’s Lorraine Ugen was third with 6.49m (21ft 3 1/2in) on her fourth attempt.