The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

JAMAL Wilson, who missed the opportunity to compete at the IAAF World Championships last year, is on the road to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for the 2016 Olympic Games.

Over the weekend at the Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium, Wilson led the list of outstanding performances at the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ Odd Distance Track and Field Meet when he won the men’s high jump with a personal best leap of 2.30 metres or 7-feet, 6 1/2-inches.

Wilson, 27, surpassed the automatic qualifying mark of 2.29m (7-6). He is hoping to be one of the high jumpers who are eligible to compete for the Bahamas when the IAAF publishes the final list of qualifiers on July 12. In the process, Wilson also went above his previous best of 2.28m (7-5 3/4) that he posted at the same track in 2013.

The meet, which kicked off the BAAA’s 2016 season, saw athletes compete in different events on the track and from shorter distances in the jumps and in standing up positions in the throwing events. Wilson, representing RC Athletics and coached by Ronald Cartwright, easily won over his nearest rival Blayre Fernander, 19, who did 2.05m (6-8 3/4).

In the marquee event of the day, rising star Steven Gardiner, who established a new men’s national record in winning the men’s 400 metres at the BAAA National Championships, surged to victory in the 300 metres, clocking 32.64 seconds to hold off Ramon Miller, who did 33.36 for second. Andretti Bain was also expected to participate in the race but didn’t.

Among the multiple performers at the meet were Doneisha Anderson, who was a triple threat, winning the under-18 girls’ 150m (18.51) and 300m (40.29) as well as the high jump with 1.68m and was joined by Tiffany Hanna, who did the same, sweeping all three throwing events in the open division by taking the shot put with 11.84m (38-10 1/4); discus with 33.65m (110-4) and the javelin with 17.40m (57-1).

Charisma Taylor led a field of double winners in the under-28 60m hurdles in 8.77 and the long jump with 4.72m. Darvinique Dean did her feat in the under-10 80m (12.32) and 150m (24.07); Sarah Hepburn in the under-12 80m (11.17) and 150m (21.04); Anthaya Charlton in under-14 300m (44.23) and long jump (4.32m or 14-2 1/4); Megan Moss in the under-26 girls 150m (18.92) and 300m (40.27) and Mica Evans in the open 150m in 18.44 and the 300m in 41.42.

Tamara Myers, in her post-collegiate appearance, opened up with a victory in the open triple jump with a leap of 12.58m (41-3 1/4).

On the men’s side, Branson Rolle picked up where he left off last year by producing his hat trick by taking the under-16 150m in 16.73, the 300m in 34.92 and the javelin with 49.80m (163-4).

Edward Kemp picked up a pair of victories in the open division in the shot put with 11.63m (38-2) and the discus with 34.56m (113-4). Trent Ford doubled up in the under-10 boys’ 80m in 12.02 and the 150m in 22.73; Meleek Pierre duplicated the feat in the under-14 boys’ 80m in 10.26 and the 150m in 20.13.

Lavardo Smith had the fastest time in the open men’s 150 in 16.20.

The meet was also the first for the new administration led by Rosamunde Carey, who ousted Mike Sands as president in November during the BAAA annual general meeting and election of officers.