The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS 

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THERE’S no better way for a senior to close out his collegiate career than to win the National Collegiate Athletic Association Championship title.

Latario Collie, competing for Texas A&M in an historic final on Friday at the Hayward Field at ‘Track City’ in Eugene, Oregon, became the latest Bahamians to triumph as the NCAA Division One men’s triple jump champion over a field that included his twin brother Lathone and Kaiwan Culmer.

The four-day meet also saw a number of other Bahamians in action, including Illinois’ high hurdler Pedrya Seymour and University of Southern California sprinter Ty’Nia Gaither in action.

Surprisingly, Collie only needed one jump – his first attempt - as he soared to 16.97 metres or 55-feet, 8 ¼-inches to snatch the lead. On his second attempt, which he aborted as he reached the sand, Collie twisted his right ankle.

He passed up the remaining four rounds and watched as none of his rivals could pass him. Florida’s KeAndre Bates finished second with a windy 54-10 ¾ (16.73) while South Florida’s Matthew Oneal placed third at 54-5 ¼ (16.59).

Lathone Collie, the twin brother of Latario, placed seventh with a leap 16.02 (52-6 ¾) that he produced in the sixth round. Lathone reached the final with a 15.98 (52-5 ¼). Culmer, a sophomore at the University of Nebraska, was 11th with 15.93m (52-3 ¼).

“I didn’t think I was going to be able to jump again after twisting my ankle on the second attempt,” Collie said. “I knew the competition was really good so I had to go really hard and just shock everyone.

“It was a lot of pressure to wait for the following rounds since there were some really good jumpers in the field. On the second jump, as I came off from the take-off, I just landed badly on my step phase. So, my ankle twisted a little bit.”

National record, spill

and tumble for Seymour

On Saturday in the women’s 100m hurdle final, Seymour stumbled after clearing the first hurdle and was unable to clear the second hurdle cleanly and was unable to finish the race. However, by qualifying for the final, Seymour earns First Team All-American honours for the first time in her career.

“What happened in the finals today was unfortunate but it was a blessing and a lesson. I’m blessed to even make it to the finals and the commentators said that this is by far one of the fastest 100mh finals at the NCAA championships,” Seymour said.

“I had a great season and I know that God has more in store for me because he chose me to do this assignment. I know I had what it takes to PR again and place in the finals but things didn’t work out.”

Seymour, a graduate of St Anne’s School, said it happened so quickly that she was in disbelief with bruises on her right shoulder and her head hitting the hurdle when she fell. But the good thing is she is okay.

“My coach (Ron Garner) always tells me I have to give my best effort in the preliminaries because I may not get to run another round,” she said. ”I did just that. I went into the preliminaries with a final mindset.

“I gave a great effort which resulted in a PR and breaking my national record. In the finals today, I got out of the blocks really well but my trail leg clipped the first hurdle.”

Seymour, a red-shirt sophomore, advanced to the final on Thursday night after clocking the third-fastest qualifying time, a personal-best time of 12.86 that broke her own Bahamian record and ranks third in Illinois history.

“That fall today built my confidence even more,” Seymour said. “Having already qualified for the Olympics, my goal is to continue to train, compete at (the BAAA’s) senior nationals and represent Team Bahamas in the summer competitions.”

By advancing to the event final, Seymour clinches All-American honors for the second time in her career, the first as a First Team All-American. Seymour was a Second Team All-American indoors this year in the 60m hurdles.

“She’s had an incredible and unmarked path,” said coach Garner. “She’s done a beautiful job this year. It’s unfortunate because she could have been on the podium. I’m sure she’ll take that and grow. To be in that field, to be where she’s at, with the poise she has, she’s in a good place going forward.

“This is the third time she’s broken her [Bahamian] national record, so I think that speaks for itself as to the level that she’s at. I think she’s in a great position, going into the final, to be able to replicate it. That’s a major accomplishment in an Olympic year. That’s huge, that’s gigantic. And, moving to number three on our all-time list is big deal because the two in front of her have been world champions.”

Close triple feat for Gaither

In her season campaign for the University of Southern California, Gaither powered to a fourth place finish in the women’s 100m in a personal best of 11.08, albeit wind-aided.

The title went to Oregon’s freshman Ariana Washington in 10.95 as she held of San Diego State’s sophomore Ashley Henderson, who did 11.07. Texas’ senior Morotake Akinosun took third in 11.07 just ahead of Gaither.

Gaither came back and posted another PR, placing fifth in the 200m in 22.54 as Akinosun once again beat her out, this time in a photo finish for fourth.

Oregon got a sweep of the first two spots as Washington picked up another win in 22.21 ahead of team-mate Deajah Stevens, who did 22.25. Hayward’s freshman Gabrielle Thomas was third in 22.47.

“I am content with it. I’m not completely satisfied. My goals were definitely a little better,” Gaither insisted. “I worked with what I had. I’m not satisfied, but I know I still have work to do and I have room for improvement.

“My 100m, I know my weak areas in the race and I know what I have to work on going forward. The 200, I was a lot more pleased with. It was a big PR for me. There’s not much I complain with. I just need a little more fine toning to do and I will be okay.”

Gaither, who has also qualified for the Olympics in both sprint events, started the final day of competition by anchoring the Trojans in the women’s 4 x 100m relay team to second in 22.90 for a USC school record and the eighth-fastest time by a school all-time.

Gibson dropped to 11th

In the women’s triple jump, Penn State’s junior Dannielle Gibson had to settle for 11th place with 13.05m (42-9 ¾) in a keenly contested event that saw Georgia’s sophomore Keturah Orji established a new collegiate record with her winning leap of 14.53m (47-8).

Bahamians in preliminaries

While Gaither advanced out of Thursday’s semifinal of the women’s 200m in 22.81, Purdue’s Carmiesha Cox fell short with 23.58 for 17th overall.

In the 100m, Gaither had the second fastest time of 11.19 and in the women’s 100m hurdles, Seymour had the third best time of 12.86 for her new national record.

And on Wednesday, Tadashi Pinder, a senior at Alabama, was 19th overall in the men’s 100m 10.42.