The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

FOR the second consecutive year, Shaunae Miller gained another impressive victory in the women’s 200 metres at the Jamaican Invitational.

On Saturday night at the Jamaican National Stadium in Kingston, she joined Jeffery Gibson, who won the men’s 400m hurdles, as event champions.

The Bahamain duo were among five elite athletes and a number of youth competitors from the Star Trackers that participated in the weekend meet that followed the performances of three other athletes who competed at the IAAF Diamond League in Doha, Qatar.

Miller, once again showing her versatility after winning her specialty in the 400m at the second Chris Brown Bahamas Invitational (CBBI) last month,, sped to victory in the women’s 200m in 22.14 seconds. The time matched the meet record she set last year in winning the race for the first time. However, the time was wind-assisted, the gauge reading was 2.2, just over the legal time of 2.0.

Jamaican Annei McLaughlin-Whilby was a distant second in 22.79 and American Shalonda Solomon came third in 22.80.

Gibson, coming off his third place finish at the CBBI, clocked a season’s best of 48.96 seconds in the men’s 400m hurdles. Jamaican Jaheel Hyde was second with 49.16 and American Bershawn Jackson came third in 49.29.

“The race went well. I was confident that I would run a strong race,” Gibson told The Tribune. “I was hungry for the win. Since I won two world challenges last year I wanted to start out winning top level races Jamaica being my first.”

Gibson, however, admitted that he could have run faster. “Seeing as I wasn’t tired after I crossed the line I felt that I could have ran harder on the back stretch of the track,” he said. “It is crucial that I learn how to distribute my energy efficiently across the race evenly.”

With the Rio Olympics as the focus this year, Gibson said the “time that I ran is the time the time that I was hoping to open up with. I will use it as a stepping stone for the meets to come. Running faster each race.”

The goal for Gibson is to “run” in as many of the major meets on the circuit and seeing new cities as he begins the trek to the Games. He will compete again on Friday at the Shanghai Diamond League meet in China.

There was another showdown for men’s high jumpers Trevor Barry and Jamal Wilson. Coming off his third place behind Donald Thomas and Barry at the CBBI, Wilson got the better of the match-up with a third place in their specialty event with 2.26m (7ft 5in). Barry cleared the same height while American Bryan McBride won with the same height on less knockdowns.

Also at the meet, national record holder Bianca ‘BB’ Stuart was fourth in the women’s long jump with a best leap of 6.24m (20ft 5 3/4in). American Janay Deloach was the winner with 6.47m (21ft 2 3/4in). Quarter-miler Ramon Miller came seventh in the men’s 200m in 21.07 seconds as he dropped down to get in some speed work. Jamaican Asafa Powell won in 20.45.

In Doha, Thomas had the best showing of the Bahamian trio, finishing sixth with a season’s best of 2.29m (7ft 6in), the same mark as three other competitors, who beat him on less knockdowns. American Erik Kynard was the winner with a world leading mark of 2.33m (7ft 7 3/4in). Guowei Zhang, of China, came second with a season’s best of 2.31m (7ft 7in).

A star-studded field in the men’s 400m saw Gibson come seventh in 46.39. American LaShawn Merritt, winner of the 200m at the CBBI, won in 44.41. Trinidad & Tobago’s Michael Cedenio was second with a season’s best of 44.68 and Abdalleleh Haroun, of Qatar, was third in 44.81.

Leevan ‘Superman’ Sands ended up ninth in the men’s triple jump with a leap of 16.30m. American Christian Taylor, the winner of the CBBI triple jump, turned in a world leading mark of 17.23m on his final attempt for victory. He surged ahead of the pack from the third round when he leapt 17.19m.

In events in the age group segment of the meet in Jamaica a contingent from the Star Trackers Track Club competed.

Jada Knowles achieved a sprint double in the girls 10-12 division. She won the 100m in 12.45 seconds with teammate Anthaya Charlton second in 12.63. Knowles also took the 200m in 26.16 seconds with Charlton fifth in 27.26.

Bailee Miller was fourth in the girls 10-12 300m in 45.16 seconds behind winner Tianna Newby, of Team Rockets, in 42.94. Miller was also 22nd overall in the 200m in 28.71.

Conrad Newry, in the boys 10-12 100m, took second place in 12.85. Caton Daley, of the Bright Beginning, won in 12.72. Newry was also fourth in the 200m in 27.31. The winning time was 26.14 by Nando Mggs of Mona Prep.

Also, Sha-Vantae Williams came in 23rd in the girls 7-and-under 50m Class 3 in 8.95 seconds.