The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

STEVEN Gardiner, off to an impressive start in his first year as a professional athlete, became the ninth Bahamian male quarter-miler to dip under the 45-second barrier in the 400 metres when he took the victory in the Star Athletics Sprint Classic in Montverde, Florida, over the weekend.

Gardiner, competing for the OTM based in the United States, had the fastest timed final time of 44.98 seconds to win the second of the five heats for the victory that came ahead of Grand Bahamian Michael Mathieu, who had to settle for second place after he won the first heat in 45.08 as they both surpassed the qualifying standard of 45.50 for the IAAF World Championships in Beijing, China, in August.

Also at the meet, Gardiner’s training partner Lanece Clarke took the victory in the women’s one-lap race in 53.07 after she crossed the finish line first in the first of three heats. Grand Bahamians Shakeitha Henfield, second in heat two, was sixth overall in 54.32, while Miriam Byfield got fourth in the same heat for ninth overall in 56.12.

Byfield came back in the 200m and got third in the third of six heats for 12th place overall in 23.83 with Henfield winning heat six for 18th overall in 24.56.

Sheniqua ‘Q’ Ferguson, seventh in the first of three heats in the women’s 100m, was 11th overall in 11.50.

And Andre Colebrooke, the 800m specialist, dropped down to the 400m hurdles where he clocked 52.39 for second in the last of two heats for seventh overall.

For 19-year-old Gardiner, who hails from Abaco where he got started under the tutelage of Rev Anthony Williams, said that while he felt okay with his performance, it was a bit taxing.

“I was really surprised by the time,” he told The Tribune in a brief interview.

With his performance, Gardiner joins an elite field of quarter-milers who have ran under 45 seconds. The list starts with the veteran Chris ‘Fireman’ Brown, who holds the national record with 44.40 seconds that he set in Oslo in 2008. Brown has also ran nine of the fastest 400 metres by a Bahamian.

Retired Avard Moncur posted the second fastest time of 44.45 when he set the previous national record in 2001 in Madrid.

The other Bahamians who have ran under the mark are Andretti Bain at 44.62 in Des Moines in 2008, Demetrius Pinder in 44.77 in Nassau in 2012, Troy McIntosh in 44.79 in Nassau in 1999, Ramon Miller in 44.87 in Nassau in 2012, Andrae Williams in 44.90 in Sacramento in 2005 and LaToy Williams in 44.97 in Nassau in 2014.

“It feels great. I am young working hard and this is a great company to be in,” Gardiner said. 

Currently being trained by George Cleare at the University of Georgia, Gardiner said his training is going “awesome. I’m getting more comfortable with it.”?

As for his transition to the pro ranks, Gardiner said it “feels good. It is something I had dreamed about but was unsure how I would get there ?as not many get the opportunity.”?

With this being a busy year ahead the Bahamas Association of Athletic Association’s National Track and Field Championships June 27-28 at the Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium, the Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada in July and the IAAF World Championships, Gardiner said his goal is to run as fast as he can this year.

Gardiner, now turning in the second fastest time in the 400m so far this year behind Brown’s pair of 44.54 and 44.76, is expected to compete again in Oslo on Thursday.