The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THEY'RE back together again, competing as a twin tandem in the men's triple jump for the first time since the 2012 IAAF World Junior Championships. Next week, they both contest the Pan American Games before they head off to the IAAF World Championships.

It's the first Bahamian brothers duo, or even twins for that matter, to compete in a global senior meet. At the 14th IAAF World Junior Championships in Barcelona, Spain, Lathone got injured and didn't make the final, while Latario soared to the bronze medal.

As they prepare for the IAAF World Championships in Doha, Qatar, September 26 to October 7, the 25-year-old duo is hoping to make a splash at the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru, July 26 to August 11.

"It's a plus for us to be back together again," Lathone said. "It's good for us because one minute I'm back and he's out with an injury, or he's back and I'm out with an injury. But this year has been very good.

"We had some very good training and consistency was the key for us in staying healthy. We just came back from the European circuit where Latario did two Diamond League series meets and I'm done with some challenges meets. So it's good very good for us."

For Latario, he can't complain about what he has achieved so far this year.

"Things have been going really good this year. I have been consistent and healthy and getting good training in, so I'm looking forward to a big personal best this year and even winning a medal at the World Championships," said Latario, who qualified for Qatar with his season's best of 17.04m/55-11.

While Lathone was on the mill last year, Latario made the trip to the Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast where he was 11th overall with a best leap of 15.90m/52-2.

With this being the first year that the Teleos Academy graduates, who went on to compete for Texas A&M, are competing on the professional circuit together, they're hoping to make it a double-take whenever they step on the field.

"It's been very competitive," said Latario about the two who have been training each other for competition as they did competing against each other in the past. "I have someone to teach with now, so I can push myself.

"Sometimes, if I try to train myself, I don't know how far I can jump, or how fast I can run without that competition here. So it's really good to have him there training and competing with me."

Based in Texas, the duo has been home for a few months training under the watchful eyes of coaches James Rolle and Allan Mortimer in preparation for the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations National Track and Field Championships this weekend in Grand Bahama.

"My goal is to try and get more points for the international ranking," Lathone said. "I just want to improve on my personal best performance of (16.99 metres or 55-feet, 9-inches) and go after Leevan Sands' national record (of 17.59m/57-8 1/2).

"So I feel pretty good. I think that will set me up for Pan Am in a week or so and to get me ready for the World Championships."

With Sands not expected to compete because of a recurring knee injury, the Collie-Minns pair is expected to face some stiff challenge from Kaiwan Culmer, a graduate of the University of Nebraska.

The brothers are looking past the nationals and ahead to the international stage.

"I have more meets in Europe, but my ultimate goal is to get into the finals at the World Championships," Lathone said. "That is my goal and I feel that is possible for me to achieve with my brother there pushing me along.

"With the two of us competing together again, it's going to be a big push. Sometimes it's just hard to go out there jumping by yourself. So it's even better having him there. We can only feed off each other."

No doubt there is also that sibling rivalry that they both point out escalates once they leave the track and head home.

"Latario is a better triple jumper than me, but I am better in the long jump," said Lathone, who will also be adding the 100 metres to his repertoire next year when he refocuses on the long jump.

"I could possibly run a 10.40 in the 100m so I will be in a few races. I haven't done it since I was in high school, but I ran a 6.80 in the 60 metres. That's pretty fast. I never had an opportunity to run the 100m. But I will next year."

Latario admits that rivalry is what has shaped them.

"It's not just about competing on the track," he stated. "We would argue about who has the best meet, who has the best takeoff and who was too far from the board. When we are home, we could argue about who cooks the best, who could wash the dishes the fastest. So the rivalry is always there."

When they are not arguing, Latario said they are comparing notes to help each other in their quest to become the next Leevan 'Superman' Sands of the Bahamas in the men's triple jump.

"I was in Europe competing and everybody was asking about Leevan," Latario said. "They still love him out there. I know we would like to have him in the competition in Grand Bahama, but he will be there supporting us from the sidelines.

"We just have to stay consistent until Pan Am and stay healthy so that we can go to the Worlds and make our presence felt."

Although he's not competing this year, Sands said he's delighted to be able to head to Grand Bahama to show his support to the triple jumpers and the rest of the athletes competing in the nationals.

"I can't jump forever. I'm not done yet, but I was waiting for these two athletes to get to the level that they are right now," Sands said. "It's just remarkable, so I am just here to support them.

"I was hoping that I would be competing at this nationals because I don't like to miss it. I don't think I ever missed a nationals, even for when I got hurt because I know what it means to compete. So it's motivation for them when I am there."

Sands, an Olympic and World Championship bronze medallist, said it's an historic time for the Bahamas and possibly even the world because he's never heard of two brothers competing together in the triple jump.

"I think it's amazing and a big story too for a lot of people to catch onto," Sands pointed out. "I don't think we ever had two brothers qualified for the same event in the world. I don't think I have ever heard of two brothers jumping over 17 metres, so it's an awesome story."

Having been there and done it, Sands said he's here to help the brothers improve on their careers, even if they go on to shatter his national record. After all, records are meant to be broken. "I expect great things from them in the future," said Sands as he prepares to make his exit off the scene in his final appearance at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, once he can attain the qualifying standard.