The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

NOT since Derrick Atkins ran 9.91 seconds to win the silver medal in the men’s 100 metres at the IAAF World Championships in 2007 in Osaka, Japan, has there been a Bahamian male sprinter that was a serious contender for global success.

Reigning national champion Warren Fraser and 2016 champion Shavez Hart are both having to change that landscape when they head to the Gold Coast, Australia, next month as a part of the 31-member team that will represent the Bahamas at the Commonwealth Games.

“So far things are looking good as we take the next two weeks to prepare for Commonwealth,” Fraser said. “I’m basically just trying to get my race model down packed so that I can be comfortable at the games.”

Fraser, who has ran a personal best of 10.14 in 2014, said it’s always good to have another compatriot entered in the same event because it takes a little of the pressure off when they step out into the huge crowd of spectators in the stands.

How much that will inspire Fraser depends on how healthy he can remain going into the competition where all eyes will be watching to see whether or not he or Hart will be able to break the 10-second barrier and be a contender for at least a spot in the final and possibly a medal in the Gold Coast.

“I think the one thing I have to actually do to run that fast, because I believe I’m capable of running that fast, is I just have to focus on trying to stay healthy,” Fraser said.

“If I can stay healthy and be consistent for a whole year, I know that I will be able to run under 10 seconds.

“Everything else hinges on how well I take care of my body, eating right and stay away from things that could cause me to get away from my proper training programme.”

As he heads to Australia, Fraser said he expects the competition to be fierce even without the presence of the United States of America. “The 100 metres will still be the most competitive event because we really won’t be missing much people, except for the United States,” he stated. “All of the other people who have set records and are among the top competitors in the world are from the Commonwealth countries.

“So it’s basically a world championship match-up minus the United States, so I still have to go there and perform. It’s going to be a lot of fun because I have some people on my list that I have to beat. I have a whole list. I just mark them off after I beat them.”

Fraser, who won’t have a meet to compete in before he heads to Australia, is training at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia, under coach Ken Harding.

He is coming off his appearance at the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Birmingham, Great Britain, at the beginning of the month where he got to the semi-final of the 60m with a season’s best of 6.66.

Hart, who is training in Phoenix, Arizona, under coach Stuart McMillan of the ALTIS group that includes Canadian top sprinter Andre De Grasse, Great Britain’s 2017 Diamond League 100m champion Chijindu ‘CJ’ Ujah and American Ameer Webb, said he’s in the right atmosphere to succeed.

“I like it here,” said Hart, now in his second year and his first full season in the camp.

“Practice here is a simulation of a meet. That’s good because I’m in a professional environment where everybody is making a name for themselves. I like it here.”

Coming off an indoor meet in January, Hart said his training there is progressing very well and should culminate with him turning in a great performance at the Commonwealth Games.

He intends to compete in at least one meet before he heads to Australia.

“I feel like I’m in the best shape of my life, but doing that in practice is one thing and doing it in a meet is another thing,” he said.

“I just have to translate everything now from practice to competition.”

As the games draw near, Fraser advised the public to: “Just watch out for the sprinters.”