The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

OFF to what he considers to be his best indoor track and field start ever, Bahamas male 2021 Athlete of the Year Steven Gardiner feels he’s on track to securing his third straight medal at a global meet in the men’s 400 metres at the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon, in August.

Dropping down to the 300m in his season opener on Friday in the University of Alabama (UAB) Blazer Invitational at the Crossplex Athletic Facility in Birmingham, Gardiner clocked a blazing lifetime best of 32.06 seconds to break both his own meet and Bahamian national records of 32.51 that he posted in 2018.

In the race that turned out to be the world’s best mark before American Jacory Patterson surpassed it with 31.99 at the Clemson Invitational at the Clemson Indoor Track and Field Complex on Saturday, Gardiner beat out Great Britain’s Matthew Hudson- Smith, who ran 32.80 and USA’s Mason Phillips, who was third in 33.09.

“I felt pretty good about it. It’s the fastest I’ve ever opened up in January and it’s a huge PB (personal best), national record and meet record,” said Gardiner.

He added the feat to a number of national accomplishments over the past few years he’s been competing professionally. “I’m really thankful for it.”

Heading into the race, Gardiner said he and his American coach Gary Evans talked about what he should do and what time he should run. He said they anticipated it would be at least 32.2, but when he saw 32.0 on the clock, Gardiner was shocked.

“I’m really pleased with the shape that I’m in. This is my best offseason training in my six years with coach Gary and I feel pretty confident going on to the rest of the year,” Gardiner reflected. “I’m looking forward to some great performances.

“We’re just going to go out there and do what we always do and that is to have fun. But the goal is to get back on the podium again (at the World Championships).”

Although he’s competing indoors right now, Gardiner said he won’t be participating in the World Indoor Championships. Instead, he said he will be using the meets to get him prepared for the outdoor season and the trek towards Oregon.

The 26-year-old six-foot, four-inch Abaco native is expected back in action next week in South Carolina. And with the World Championships still a long way off, Gardiner feels it will take another Bahamian national record to successfully defend his title from the World Championships in Doha, Qatar, in 2019. “I will definitely have to do a personal best in order to be a contender for another medal, possibly a record,” Gardiner, whose national 400m record stands at 43.48 from Doha, projected.

“We’re not chasing the record right now. We’re just concentrating on going out there to win. “If we get the record on the way there, it will just add to the accomplishments this year. I’m in the best shape of my life. I’ve never felt this way in my offseason and it gives me a lot of confidence moving forward.”

Every day, Gardiner said Evans has inspired him by telling him that he’s “looking good” and that has increased his motivation to go to Oregon and do it again just like he did in Doha and Tokyo (at the 2019 World Championships and 2020 Olympic Games) in August.

And while he is expected to continue to run the 200m to develop his speed, Gardiner said there’s no doubt that his focus will remain on the 400m.

Gardiner, who won his first major international medal at the World Championships in London in 2017 with the bronze in the 400m, holds the Bahamas’ indoor national records in the 200m (20.71), 300m (32.06) and 400m (49.63).

And outdoors, the five-time Bahamas national champion owns the national records in the three events in times of 19.75 in the 200m, 31.83 in the 300m and 43.48 in the 400m. He has also ran a pretty decent 100m in 10.35.