The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribnemedia.net

Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie, the most decorated Bahamian female sprinter, is getting closer to bringing the curtains down on a glaring career in track and field.

But before she finally calls it quits, Ferguson-McKenzie said she wants to come home and compete one more time before the home crowd. That opportunity will come over the weekend of June 24-25 at the new Thomas A Robinson National Stadium when she competes in the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ National Open Track and Field Championships.

Yesterday, Ferguson-McKenzie issued a formal letter to the media, indicating the latter after 30 years of representing the Bahamas - a feat she attributed to the tremendous support she has received from the Bahamian people. It’s been the longest tenure of any Bahamian athlete, active or inactive.

“Often times I reflect over my life and I realise that my career was largely built upon patience. It’s been said that patience is a virtue and I’m a firm believer in that saying,” she stated in part. “There were and still are so many lessons to learn. Everyday presented and still presents a teachable moment. The problem however was would I be observant and vigilant enough to notice. And for the most part I have to say that I was.

“My patience led to my progress. I was patient when things were hazy. I was patient throughout my trials and tribulations. I was patient in defeat. I was even patient when I had no answers. Thanks to that patience though, I am now thankful. As the saying goes, “To enjoy the rainbow one must endure the rain.” The Good Lord knows I’ve done my fair share of enduring. A few years ago, I was plagued by injuries and attrition and many thought my days were numbered and that retirement was my best, and only, option.”

From a youngest who got her humble beginnings at Oakes Field Primary before she developed into a top notch junior athlete at CC Sweeting and was able to secure an athletic scholarship to St Andrew’s School, Ferguson-McKenzie went on to become an elite superstar at the University of Georgia.

During that era, she went on to capture seven individual gold medals in the 100 and 200m in both the under-17 and under-20 divisions at the Carifta Games, the biggest regional competition along with a silver in the 200 and 400m and a bronze in the 200m in her under-17 division. She closed out that chapter in her career by being named the Austin Sealy winner of the most outstanding athlete in 1995 in Georgetown, Cayman Islands.

Ferguson would move onto the senior circuit with a bang and went on to become the most decorated Bahamian female sprinter ever.

She was the youngest member of the “Golden Girls” - Sevatheda Fynes, Chandra Sturrup, Pauline Davis-Thompson and Eldece Clarke - when the women’s 4 x 100 metre relay team broke onto the international scene, winning the silver medal at the Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia, serving as an alternate, to becoming the focal point on anchor of the remaining teams that went on to secure the gold at the IAAF World Championships in Seville, Spain and duplicating the feat at the Olympics in 2000 in Sidney, Australia

You name the competition from the Junior Central American and Caribbean Championships, to the Sr CAC Championships and Games, the Goodwill Games, the Pan American Games, the Commonwealth Games, the IAAF World Indoor and Outdoor Championships and the Olympic Games and Ferguson-McKenzie has excelled as either an individual medalist or as a part of both the 4 x 1200 and 4 x 400m relay teams.

She has amassed more than 30 medals in those major regional and global competitions.

Her last success for the Bahamas came at the 2013 CAC Championships in Morella, Mexico where she ran the third leg on the team that comprised of Tylar Carter, Cache Armbrister and Nivea Smith as they picked up the bronze. Prior to that, she made an international appearance with her final triumph in 2010 at the IAAF Continental Cup when she ran the second leg of Americas’ victorious 4 x 100m relay team that comprised of Cydonie Mothersill from the Cayman Islands, Shalonda Solomon from the United States and Kelly-Ann Baptiste from Trinidad & Tobago In 2009 in Berlin, German, Ferguson-McKenzie would capture her last individual medal when she claimed the bronze in the women’s 200m at the IAAF World Championships.

Ferguson-McKenzie is the owner of personal best times of 10.91 seconds in the 100m, recorded on July 27, 2002 in Manchester, England; 22.19 in the 200m in St Denis, France on July 3, 1999 and 53.30 in the 400m on January 1, 2001. Indoors, she has clocked 6.71 in the 55m; 7.20 in the 60m; 11.34 in the rarely run 100m and 22.91 in the 200.

At age 40, Ferguson-McKenzie is keeping her dream alive, working and training as an assistant coach at the University of Houston, a position she has held for the past two years.

She indicated that she’s looking forward to coming home and competing in what could be her final appearance at the BAAA’s Nationals next weekend.

Her letter in its entity is printed below: