The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

NATIONAL record holder Ken Mullings picked up a second place finish in the men’s decathlon as the prestigious Penn Relays, now in its 125th year, officially began at the Franklyn Field in Philadelphia.

And as the main segment of the meet got underway yesterday, a number of CARIFTA athletes were in action as they represented St Augustine’s College Big Red Machine, St John’s Giants, Nassau Christian Academy Saints and Bishop Michael Eldon out of Grand Bahama.

Mullings, one of the athletes representing the University of the Bahamas Mingoes, accumulated a total of 6,649 points to trail Mount St Mary’s senior Christopher Gabor, who posted a total of 6,792 points for the victory.

Mullings actually lost out on the title after he failed to clear a height in the pole vault.

On day one, Mullings ran 11.23 seconds for second place in the 100m, won the long jump with a leap of 6.83 metres or 22-feet, 5-inches, got third in the shot put with a heave of 12.42m (40-9) and was third in the 400m in 50.41.

He came back on the final day and won the 110m hurdles in 14.63, the discus with a toss of 43.10m (141-1), didn’t clear a height in the pole vault and bounced back to secure the win in the the final event in the 1,500m in 4:56.61.

Today, Mullings will join other members of UB’s team as they compete in the men’s 4 x 100m, 4 x 200 (Championship of America Invitational), 4 x 400m and sprint medley college and the women’s 4 x 200m (Championship of America Invitational) and the sprint medley college.

Yesterday, the high school segment of the meet got started with the St Augustine’s College’s quartet of Lakelle Kinteh, Megan Moss, Anthaya Charlton and Jaida Knowles running 46.48 to take second place in heat nine of the girls’ 4 x 100m heats.

The Big Red Machine were one of the nine teams to advance to the Championship final today that will feature seven teams from Jamaica.

Also entered in the event were St John’s, whose team placed 53th overall in 49.54 after they were fourth in heat 12 and Bishop Michael Eldon, who was 124th overall in 55.61 after they placed eighth in heat eight.

Bishop Michael Eldon was entered in the girls’ 4 x 400m rrelay, but the team of Deazure Nicholls, Erin Curtis, Jordyn Morley and Ebony Kelly didn’t finish.

In the 4 x 400m relay, SAC’s team of Redhae Dean (59.19), Samaa Moxey (1:01.27), Sanaj Forbes (1:03.98) and Sasha Knowles (1:03.15) ran 4:07.57 for 11th place. The Queens School from Jamaica won in 3:47.26.

And Vinajah Adderley of SAC was 19th in the girls triple jump championships with a beast leap of 10.95m (35-11), Jamaica swept the top three spots, led by Ackelia Smith, the winner with 13.02m (42-8 3/4).

In the girls’; 4 x 400m relay, St John’s team of Shamica Carey (1:05.30), Jameka Chisholm (1:01.94), Indea Cartwright (1:01.87) and Lauryn Storr (1:03.18) was 8th in 4:12.28.

Also yesterday, Nassau Christian Academy’s Carifta gold medalist Rhema Otobar had to settle for sixth place in the girls javelin throw championship with her best of mark of 41.51m (136-2). Skylar Ciccolini of Mifflin in Lewistown with 56.14m (184-2).

Today, the high school boys will be in action.

Tabernacle Baptist Academy will compete in the 4 x 100m and 4 x 400m and Tyler Missick will be entered in the high jump.

St John’s will also participate in both the 4 x 100 and 4 x 400m relays, while Carifta record breaker Keyshawn Strachan is participating in the javelin.

Queen’s College will teams in the 4 x 100m and 4 x 400m relays as well, along with Carifta gold medalist Shaun Miller in the high jump and Carifta bronze Hughie Sean Rolle in the javelin. On Saturday, Carifta silver medalist Matthew Thompson will contest the 400m hurdles and Tristen Hanna will be in the triple jump.

Nassau Christian Academy will feature Michaelangelo Bullard in the javelin.

And Bishop Michael Eldon will take up a lane in the 4 x 100m relay as well. They will also participate in the 4 x 400m that will be contested on Saturday.

The highlight for the Bahamas will come on Saturday in the USA versus the World match-up. The Bahamas will have two teams entered.

The Bahamas will compete in the men’s 4 x 400m relay against Canada, Guyana, Jamaica, Kenya and the USA Blue and Red teams in the race powered by Nike.

And the women’s sprint medley, the Bahamas will run against Canada, Guyana, Jamaica, Kenya and the USA.

The Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations has not yet released the names of those athletes who are representing the Bahamas in the two elite relays.