The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

ONE down and one more Bahamas national record to go for long/triple jumper LaQuan Nairn as he eyes a spot on the Bahamas team heading to Tokyo, Japan for the postponed 2020 Olympic Games this summer.

Nairn, back at the University of Arkansas for his senior outdoor season that was taken away last year because of the coronavirus pandemic, inked his name into the record books when he took down Leevan ‘Superman’ Sands’ 17-year-old indoor mark in the men’s long jump.

At the American Track League #3 in Fayetteville on Sunday, the 24-year-old posted a personal best of 26-feet, 9 1/4-inches or 8.16 metres for second place to erase Sands’ record of 26-7 (8.10) that he established on February 24, 2004 in Lexington, Kentucky.

“I want to be the best and now that I have grown much in the sport, I think I am in a better position to accomplish my goals,” Nairn said. “You have to learn to value people, listen to what they have to say and be disciplined in whatever I do.

“Those three things, value, listening and discipline will take you through the sport, whatever sport you play. So I’m looking to make the Olympic team and represent my country. That is my goal, to represent the country and get a medal.”

With his faith in God, the former CR Walker and St John’s standout said he can achieve his goals because he’s “not one to give up” in whatever he puts his mind to achieve. To set the stage for this year by producing his PR and a national record in just his first jumping event for the year, Nairn said it speaks volumes to what he and the coaching staff are doing at the University of Arkansas.

“Listening, valuing people and being disciplined is so important. I learned that during the quarantine last year for coronavirus,” he said. “My coaches gave me the opportunity to come back to compete outdoors. That has helped to get through my practice.”

As the season progresses, Nairn said he anticipates that the performances will only get better.

“Obviously I will have to continue to work hard every day in practice, which is what I am trying to do,” he lamented. “But other than that, the jumps will continue to come as I continue to compete. So I just have to stay healthy and give God all the glory.”

As the long jump is his signature event, Nairn said one of his priority this year is to break Craig Hepburn’s national outdoor long jump record of 8.41m that he produced at the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ National Championships on June 27, 1993 at the Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Stadium.

“Craig Hepburn told me about 5-6 years ago that I could do it,” Nairn said. “I believe I can do it. I;m just practicing every day. It’s not my mindset to do it. I didn’t think about the national indoor record coming in this meet. I just went out and executed. That is the approach I will take with the outdoor record by Craig.”

There’s no timeline on when Nairn will compete again, but with the outdoor season not tipped to get underway until at least April, which gives him ample time to fully prepare for the challenge ahead of him.

“I train with sprinters, so they have been helping me to be more explosive on the runway,” Nairn pointed out, “It’s not about me trying to be a sprinter. I didn’t even execute my race. I could run faster than that.”

Prior to competing this weekend, Nairn ran the 60m in the American Track League #2, which worked in his favor because it helped him with his speed on the runway on Sunday.

“There wasn’t any fear,” said Nairn about competing against some of the top competitors, who could be heading to Tokyo like winner Marquis Dendy (with a world leading 26-111.4 or 8.12m) and third place finisher Charles Brown (25-71/2 or 7.81m). “My confidence was good. I don’t worry about it on the runway.

“One thing about the long jump is you have to go and perform. All those guys are great jumpers, so I just went into the event, focusing on what I had to do. I wanted to concentrate on my approach and listen to what my coaches were telling me to do.”

Nairn, who is studying criminal justice at Arkansas, thanked his parents Lourawls and Monalisa Nairn and his brother, Lourawls ‘Tum Tum’ Nairn, a former national team basketball player, who is now a graduate manager at his alma mater at Michigan State or to the Breslin Center, for their support, along with his family and friends.

“Thank you for always believing in me,” he stressed. “Thank you to the whole Bahamas. I appreciate everything.”

And with the coronavirus still rampening, Nairn said he tries to stay to himself and avoid the large crowds.

“I am just focused on trying to get better every day,” he insisted. “I don’t get caught up in too many things.”