The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

The coronavirus pandemic may have limited the amount of meets that they compete in, but quarter-miler Steven Gardiner and sprinter Tynia Gaither are making the best of the opportunities they’re provided with.

Competing at the American Track League Meet #7 on Saturday at Life University in Marietta, Georgia, the duo pulled off victories in the 100 metres.

Gardiner, coming off his national record-breaking performance in the men’s 150m a week ago, produced his lifetime best of 10.35 seconds. The 24-year-old Adidas-sponsored athlete took the race ahead of Cejhae Greene of the Knoxville’s All-Stars in 10.38.

“I wished I was more explosive because I have the foot speed, but overall I felt good about it,” Gardiner told The Tribune. “I don’t normally start on the straight away, so my coach told me to be explosive coming out and to work on my arm movement.

“I did that and I came across the line in a pretty good time. I was working on my technique and my drive phase.”

Gaither, on the other hand, emerged on top of the field in the women’s century in 11.61 over Madison Fleming, who did 12.51.

Gaither, 27, came back in the finale of the meet and lowered her time to 11.59 for another victory over Kimberly Williams of Adidas in 12.07.

Prior to the meet, Gaither picked up a pair of victories at the Back to the Track Series III Meet at Prairie View A&M University in Prairie View, Texas in the 60m in a personal best time of 7.46 and the 100m in a wind-aided 11.25.

Looking back at his time of 15.07 the previous weekend at the Atlanta 150m Challenge at the same site to erase Chris ‘Fireman’ Brown’s national record of 15.10 in the 150m, Gardiner said he was fully prepared for the century this weekend.

“It showed that I am in great shape. I could have gone faster, but I am still pleased with the way I performed,” he said.

“It’s been a great season. It’s not what I expected, but I ran some really good times this year in the 200m, 150m and now the 100m, so I feel good about my performances.”

Now that he’s officially done for the year, Gardiner said he can take a break and get ready for the long haul towards to the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, which was postponed in July to July 2021.

“This year we won’t be able to compete in the big races, so hopefully next year everything will be back to the way it was,” said Gardiner of the season that was interrupted due to the coronavirus.

“I just want to continue training and working hard, regardless of what happens. I know I will have to be ready for whatever happens next year.”

As the 400m champion at the 2019 World Championships in Doha, Qatar last August, Gardiner has not contested any one-lap races this year and he indicated that the focus next year will probably be on his assault of the 200m, an event he made his international debut in when he came from Moore’s Island, Abaco when he was coached by Anthony Williams.

“I think we will be switching it up from now on,” said Gardiner, referring to the recommendation from his current coach Gary Evans. “You will see me doing a lot more 200m with the 400m. I enjoy competing in both and I believe I can have just as much success in the two of them.”

With limited amount of fans or in some cases none at all due to the coronavirus protocols, Gardiner said he has been able to concentrate on his mission and that is to run as fast as he can.

In addition to his PR in the 100m, Gardiner has also produced season’s bests of 15.10 in the 150m, 19.96 in the 200m and 31.83 in the 300m.

Gardiner’s manager Clyde Bryan, the chief executive officer of On Track Management. Inc. said he was pleased that Gardiner “finished the race injury free. On to 2021.”

Bryan is also the manager for female Olympic champion and World Championship silver medallist Shaunae Miller-Uibo, who didn’t compete this weekend.

The 26-year-old Miller-Uibo was sixth in the 150m race in the Atlanta 150m Challenge in 20.35 when she returned to action a week ago after she had to withdraw from the finals of the women’s 100m the previous week at the Star Athletics Sprint Showcase in Florida where she ran 13.56.

Bryan said Miller-Uibo will compete again prior to season’s end, but he was not at liberty to announce when or where.

Miller-Uibo is also waiting on the results of the case against Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser, who was provisionally suspended for missing three drug tests in a 12-month span after last year’s World Championships. If she does, Miller-Uibo will be elevated to the top of the podium.