The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

IT IS not how you start, nor how you get there. Most importantly, it’s how you finish.

• The Finish Line, a weekly column, seeks to comment on the state of affairs in local sports, highlighting the highs and the lows, the thrills and the spills and the successes and failures.

THE WEEK

THAT WAS

After the controversy with regard to not getting a chance to attempt the 200/400 metre double at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, newly wed Shaunae Miller-Uibo has made it clear that she will be pursuing it at the IAAF World Championships in London, England, in August.

The Olympic gold medallist made the claim clear after she went to New York City and dominated the women’s 300m at the Millrose Games, running the third fastest time in history and lowering her national record as she repeated as champion.

It’s the only indoor meet for Miller-Uibo, who the week before walked down the aisle to marry her University of Georgia college sweetheart Maicel Uibo from Estonia in a lovely reception at Atlantis, Paradise Island, the week before. If Miller-Uibo’s performance is any indication, it shows that she’s fit and ready to attempt the feat this year.

She has put her honeymoon on the back burner to get ready for the feat that has rarely been accomplished by any female athlete at either the Olympics or World Championships.

So if there’s anybody capable of achieving the feat, it’s Miller-Uibo, who has youth on her side at age 22.

The only question is will the schedule of the two events work in her favour.

That was one of the vexing arguments in Rio, although there were some who felt she still should have been given the opportunity to at least pursue it.

With six months to prepare herself, I think Miller-Uibo will be in a better frame of mind to go through the vigorous experience and not having to wait until she gets to the meet and puts the added pressure on the executives and team-mates to compete.

Miller-Uibo has given ample notice that she wants to attempt the double in London. It’s now up to her to make the necessary preparations to accomplish it.

Based on how she looked in New York, she appears to be ready for the challenge ahead of her. So let’s give her the benefit of the doubt that she can go after the feat in London.

WELL DONE

ROBERTS

Congratulations to Justin Roberts, who helped the University of South Florida men’s tennis team pull off a 4-2 upset victory over No.16 ranked Mississippi State at home in Tampa, Florida, over the weekend.

For his efforts, in winning the key singles match as well as teaming up with his partner Peter Bertram to secure their only doubles match, Roberts was named the American Athletic Conference Men’s Tennis Player of the Week.

Roberts, 20, had to come from behind to defeat Mate Cutura 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 and he and Bertram won 6-3 over Nuno Boerges and Strahinhja Rakic

So far, Roberts has enjoyed a successful collegiate season and should be commended for his efforts. He’s also the only Bahamian right now with any ATP computer points.

It was disappointing that Roberts didn’t participate in the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association’s Annual Giorgio Baldacci National Open Challenge in December, which served as the trials for the Davis Cup team.

But there’s no reason why some consideration should not be made to include him on the team, if the BLTA is looking at assembling the best team to avoid getting relegated to zone III in the next tie in April.

The Bahamas, without the services of top seed Baker Newman and No.4 seed Kevin Major Jr because of school commitments, lost the first round of the American Zone II tie to Venezuela in a 5-0 decision two weeks ago at the Doral Perk Country Club in Miami, Florida.

The team of Spencer Newman, Philip Major Jr, Justin Lunn and player/captain Marvin Rolle played extremely well. But in order for the Bahamas to stay alive in zone II against Bolivia, it’s obvious that the BLTA will have to look at putting the best team possible together.

BLTA president Elwood Donaldson has hinted that they were looking at the possibility of adding retired veteran player Mark Knowles to the line-up for his doubles expertise. Not taking anything away from Knowles, but what’s wrong with also looking at the younger Roberts, who is making his mark on the collegiate scene.

I’m sure that there are some people who would indicate that Roberts is not the only player performing at the collegiate level who should also be considered.

I agree. But all I’m saying is that there is no reason why we can’t look at all of the resources available to ensure that we put the best team out there to represent the country.