The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

AS a precautionary measure after a sub-par performance in the preliminaries, Bahamian Olympic 400 metre champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo opted not to compete in the women’s 100m final at the Star Athletic Sprint Showcase.

In the heats of the one-day meet on Monday at the Montverde Academy, a private school facility in Montverde, Florida, Miller-Uibo, competing for Adidas, crossed the finish line in lane three in the preliminaries in fourth place in a sub-par 13.56 seconds.

Sha’Carri Richardson, representing Nike, had the fastest qualifying time of 10.95. Kourtney Johnson, also of Nike, had the next best time of 11.25, followed by Kimberley Williams, who was unattached, in 12.11.

The 26-year-old Miller-Uibo’s lane was not occupied when the final took place as Richardson went on to take the title in 10.83 with Johnson second in 11.15 and Williams third in 11.85. Miller-Uibo’s manager Claude Bryan, the chief executive officer of On Track Management Inc., said it was “just a mild discomfort so she opted for caution.”

Pressed about whether Miller-Uibo would be affected for any other meets, Bryan declined any comments, but stated: “We’re looking for other low key opportunities for her to wrap up the season.”

Miller-Uibo, who was unavailable for comments, has had a terrific season amidst the coronavirus pandemic that cancelled the remainder of the indoor track season in March and halted the start of the outdoor season.

However, there were a few meets held in July where Miller-Uibo was able to produce a lifetime best of 10.98 at the Back to the Track: Clermont Series, which was then listed as the world’s fastest time to along with her leading time of 21.98 in the 200m last month as well.

The 100m time enabled the 26-year-old Miller-Uibo to join a lofty group of just four women to run sub-11s in the 100m, sub-22s in the 200m and sub-49s in the 400.

The list comprises France’s Marie José-Pérec (10.96 in the 100m, 21.99 in the 200m and 48.25 in the 400m), American Valerie Brisco-Hooks (10.99, 21.81 and 48.83) and Germany’s Marita Koch (10.83, 21.71 and 47.60, which stands as the world record from October 6, 1985.

However, over the weekend at the Velocity Fest series of meets in Kingston, Jamaica, both Jamaican sensations Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Elaine Thompson-Herah surpassed Miller-Ubio’s time in the 100m with top performances of 10.87 and 10.88 respectively.

With Miller-Uibo out of the meet on Monday, Richardson came and picked up the sprint double, taking the 200m in 22.00 over Shakima Wimbley of adidas in 22.88. Johnson was third in 23.01.

The 400m was also held with Kaylin Whitney of Nike taking the tape in 52.66. Carlin Muir of Puma was second in 53.45 and Lea Tshikaya, unattached, was third in 58.27.

The meet also saw Trayvon Bromell of New Balance taking the men’s 100 in 9.87, well ahead of Justin Gatlin of Nike, who did 10.02. Miller-Ubio’s husband, Estonia decathlete Maicel Uibo, representing adidas, was 10th overall in 11.41.