The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

NATIONAL record-breaking performances by hurdlers Devynne Charlton and Antoine Andrews overshadowed the superb efforts by Olympic champions Shaunae Miller-Uibo and Steven Gardiner during the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ National Championships this weekend.

During Friday’s evening session on day one of the two-day meet at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium, Charlton clocked 12.60 seconds to lower her previous national mark of 12.61 in the women’s 100m hurdles that she established on May 9, 2021.

The race saw Charlton pull away from the rest of the field over the 10 flights of hurdles as American-born Haitian Mulern Jean trailed in 12.99, while collegians Denisha Cartwright was third in 13.24 and Sasha Wells fourth in 13.26.

“It was great. I don’t get to compete in front of the home crowd very often so coming home for the trials is always something special for me and to beat the national record in front of the home crowd was just cherry on the top of the performance,” Charlton said.

Andrews inked his name on the Bahamas under-20 boys’ national record in the 110m hurdles with his time of 13.46 to easily wipe out Shamar Sands’ mark of 13.67 that he posted on July 20, 2002 at the World Junior Championships in Kingston, Jamaica.

In securing the win, Andrews beat out the three-man field of Otto Laing, who was second in 14.29 and Jon-Mark Smikle, third in 15.84.

“I think it was the best I executed all season. I think it was more mind over matter as I went out there and performed my best,” said Andrews in his tune-up for the World Junior Championships in Cali, Colombia, in August where he intends to run faster with more competition.

As expected, Miller-Uibo didn’t disappoint the fans as she coasted to victory in the women’s 400m in 52.62 with collegian Megan Moss returning from Kentucky to pick up second in 53.28 and Jayonya Wilcourt third in 55.24.

“We had a bit of a wait before the race, which I think resulted in the performance,” said Miller- Uibo, who wanted to run a little faster. “I felt pretty good. I just wanted to get through the round. I felt pretty strong, so I think we’re in good shape for the World Championships.”

Miller-Uibo said she’s been impressed with Moss and was delighted to see her progress. “I was really relaxed on the back stretch and coming off the curve, I tried to go for it,” Moss said.

“It was such a good opportunity to run against Shaunae. The crowd was so lively and I think that made a difference competing against one of our country’s best athletes.”

The men’s one-lapper saw Gardiner take control on the back stretch and stretched it coming off the curve to take the victory in 45.32. Grand Bahamian Alonzo Russell was second in 46.41 and Bradley Dormeus was third in 46.70.

“It’s been a good season. It’s been a short season, but I just want to get ready for the World Championships,” Gardiner said.

“I’m looking forward to going out there and competing and doing my best and hopefully bring home a medal for our country.”

The women’s century was won by Tynia Gaither in a close finish ahead of Anthonique Strachan.

However, there was no official time shown.

“It was good. Very good energy from my competitors and the crowd, so I think we all put together a good race,” Gaither said. “We got a good start. It was a competitive start and that basically set up the rest of the race. I feel I am feeling very strong and should be ready for Worlds. This should be a good one.”

As a result of no times posted, officials set up an invitational race at the end of Friday’s session for those competitors who wanted a time registered.

While Gaither opted not to compete, Strachan took the tape in 11.39 over Camille Rutherford (11.71) and Printassia Johnson (11.74).

“There were six other competitors who competed in the race, so I just went for it,” said Strachan after the invitational.

“I would have loved to have Tynia there, but I had to focus on who was there.”

The men’s straightaway race was won by Grand Bahamian Terrence Jones Jr from Texas Tech in 10.21. Joanue Guiove of Clemson brought some international flavour as he took second in 12.03 with Ian Kerr third in 10.39 and Guiove’s Bahamian team-mate Wanya McCoy got fourth in 10.42.

“It wasn’t the exact result I was looking for, but I’m just grateful that I came out healthy,” said Jones Jr, who is also preparing for the World Championships.

“My start wasn’t as good as I wanted it. I picked it up midway in the race so I was happy to come back. It’s always good to be home competing in front of the Bahamian crowd with some good competition.”

Fast Forwards’ Zachary Evans prevailed as the under-20 boys’ champion in the 100m in 10.41 to hold off Swift Athletics’ Carlos Brown Jr (10.45) and Fast Forward’s Keano Ferguson (10.65). “I didn’t have a good start like I normally do,” said Ferguson, who is now preparing to enrol at Purdue University in August. “I was a little slow with my reaction, but I just held my top end, stayed relaxed and I came through with the win.”

The under-20 girls showdown saw Caitlyn Bobb from the Bermuda Pace take the tape in a personal best of 11.70 over Grand Bahamian Shatalya Dorsett, who did 11.71. Asya Stanistaus was third in 12.23.

“It was a really nice to come and compete here,” Bobb said. “I knew some of the girls from competing at CARIFTA, so it was a good chance to compete against them again in their home.”

Dorsett didn’t compete against Bobb as she was in the under-17 division at CARIFTA, but the Kenyan Knight representative said she wanted to test the waters before she moves up to under-20 next year.

“It was good. I felt I executed well. I was working on my start, so it was good to execute the way I did,” Dorsett said.

“This was a good opportunity for me to see what I need to work on for next year.”

In the men’s high jump, Donald Thomas continued to reign supreme as he prepares for the World Championships, topping the field of young collegians with a leap of 7-feet, 4 ½-inches or 2.25 metres. Shaun Miller Jr was the runner-up with 7-0 ½ (2.15m) and Kyle Alcine bowed out at 6-8 ¾ (2.05m).

“Glad to be home to compete and to do what I had to do,” Thomas said. “It was a good competition. The fellows came out and they competed. I came out competed and did what I had to do. I’m just going to go back home and work on what I need to and come back out.”

Among the highlights on Saturday’s final day of competition was the 200m.

Paige Archer took the title in the under-20 girls 200m race, but no official time was posted.

“It was surreal. Last year I was hurt and this year there was a lot of doubters and haters, but I had to prove them wrong,” said an emotional Archer.

“I thank God for giving me the strength to push through to win it.”

Miller-Uibo came back and delighted the crowd again in the open women’s half-lap race in 22.32 with Strachan giving her a little push down the home stretch in 22.59, while Gaither took third place in 23.19.

“I think it was pretty good. The only thing was waiting so long before the start of the race,” Miller- Uibo said. “Overall I think the race was pretty good. I didn’t get to execute the way I wanted to, but I feel good competing here at home.”

For Strachan, she said it was all about having some fun.

“In the call room, we took nothing serious. Doneisha was in there making jokes and so it was great,” Strachan said. “I really enjoyed running with my Bahamian team-mates.”

Strachan, who trains in Jamaica, said the meet was a good indication of the progress she’s made this year trusting in the coaching staff to help her to get ready to take up the challenge like she should at the international senior level.

Winning the men’s half-lap race was Ian Kerr of Take Off Athletics (20.84() with McCoy following (20.96) and Haiti’s Bervensky Pierre (21.41).

In the distance races, Nathan Duncan got the win for the T-Bird Flyers in the under-20 boys 5,000m in 17:24.63, followed by 4-D Stallions’ Christopher Saintus in 17:30.49. Denzel Sawyer also of T-Bird, won the 1,500m in 4:17.64 over Saintus, who did 4:17.65.

And Grand Bahamian Erin Barr of the Heats Athletics picked up the win in the under-17 girls’ 1,500m in 5:16.77. Taylor Adderley of Quick Step was second in 6:10.61 and Stacyann Humes of the T-Bird Flyers was third in 6:37.94.

Among some of the other winners over the two days were Unique Athletics’ Tanaz Davis in the under girls 100m (14.99) and 400m (1:21.06); Heats Athletics’ Symone Martin in the under-11 girls 100m (13.95); Swift Athletics’ Rocellis Moxey in the under-13 girls 100m (13.01) and Fast Track’s Keyezra Thomas in the 400m (1:01.18) and Road Runners’ Jasmine Thompson in the under-5 girls 400m (1:01.77).

Swift Athletics’ Shayan Demeritte won the under- 17 girls 100m in 12.46 and Fast Forward’s Koi Adderley won the 400m in 58.56.

In the boys division, Swift Athletics’ George Brown took the under-9 100m in 15.25 and 200m (32.59) and X-Treme Athletics’ Aiden Knowles won the 400m in 1:18.33.

Samson Wells of Spirit of Excellence won the under- 11 boys 100m in 14.10; Furious Athletics’ Travian Humes got the 200m in 29.98 and Patreco Sherman of Swift Athletics won the 400m in 1:098.58.

Swift Athletics’ Lavario Ferguson won the under- 13 boys 100m in 12.56 and Zion Branford of the Golden Eagles won both the 200m (25.46) and the 400m in 58.70.

Swift Athletics’ Roliny Labranche doubled up as the winner of the under-15 boys’ 100m (11.36) and the 200m (23.12), while Eagan Neely of Red-Kline Athletics took the 400m in 52.37.

Swift Athletics’ Ishmael Rolle emerged as the double winner of the under-17 boys 100m (10.95) and 200m (22.31) and Zion Miller of Speed Dynamics won the 400m inn 49.09.

Puma’s LaQuan Nairn took the open men’s long jump with a leap of 25-8 ¼ (7.83m); Jahn Perinchief of Bermuda Pace won the men’s triple jump (54- 08/16.66m) over Kaiwan Culmer (52-10/16.10m); Kurt Felix of Elite Performance won the men’s shot put (46-02 3/4/14.09m) and Tarajh Hudson won the discus (165-06/50.44m).

NCAA fourth place finisher Rhema Otabor tossed the open women’s javelin 192-02/58.58m, Tahj’Nee Thurston took the rarely thrown hammer (189-04/57.71m), Tiara Derosa of the Bermuda Pace won the discus (156- 01/47.58m), Tamara Myers of Leap of Faith won the open women’s triple jump (43-01 ½/13.14m) and long jump (20-02 1/4/6.15m) and Sakari Famous of Bermuda Pace won the high jump with 5-10 ¾ (1.80m).