The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemdedia.net

ALTHOUGH they competed in two different heats, Bahamas national champion Tynia Gaither had a better showing than runner-up Anthonique Strachan in the women’s 100 metres at the XXXV Meeting Citta’ Di Pasdova, Italy.

Competing at the Assindustria Sport Padova in Padova, yesterday, Gaither got fourth in the first of two heats in 11:42 seconds for ninth place in the two heats combined, while Strachan was eighth in the last heat in 11.66 for 15th overall.

Strachan was a little perturbed by the news of the passing of her former teammate and friend Shavez Hart in Abaco on Saturday morning.

She said she tried not to let it affect her as she concentrated on the task ahead of her. “Today, I didn’thave a good performance,” said Strachan, running out of lane one. “My quad still isn’t 100 percent and the 100 metres is 10 times more aggressive and more detailed than the 200m.

“But running so many bends back-to-back has made my legs so sore and it’s very uncomfortable and I’m just learning how to bear with the discomfort to see how it goes. I have one more 200m in Hungary and hopefully it goes better there than it did here.”

Marie-Josée Ta Lou of the Ivory Coast won the second heat in a meet record of 10.94 for the fastest time overall, followed by American Terry Twanisha in 11.14. Jamaica’s Natasha Morrison, the winner of heat two, had the third fastest time of 11.22 and American Sha’Carri Richardson, third in the second heat, was fourth overall.

Also at the meet, Commonwealth Games’ gold medallist LaQuan Nairn had to settle for sixth place in the men’s long jump with a best leap of 24-feet, 10-inches or 7.57 metres on his first attempt. Winning the event was Tajay Gayle of Jamaica with 27-1 ¼ (8.26m) on his third attempt.

Strachan and Gaither earn 1-2 finish in the 200 metres

In their first head-to-head showdown since the Bahamas Amateur Athletic Association’s National Championships at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium in June when Gaither took the 100m over Strachan, while Strachan came back for second ahead of Gaither in the 200m won by Shaunae Miller-Uibo, Strachan took the title over Gaither in the 200m on Friday.

Strachan, getting back to full form after she suffered an injury at the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon in July, won the 200m in Budapest on Friday in 22.63 with Gaither taking second in 22.89, while Jamaican Natasha Morrison got third in 23.95.

“The meet was good. I’m happy with it,” said Strachan of her performance.

Coming off her victory on Tuesday in Lucerne, Switzerland in 22.68, Strachan said she didn’t have any expectations going into Friday’s race.

“All I wanted to do is stay sub-23 to set me up for next season,” Strachan said.

Strachan, however, said it was good to have a compatriot competing in the event.

“I enjoy competing with familiar faces especially my fellow country competitors,” she noted.

The feeling was neutral for Gaither, the NACAC 200m silver medallist and member of the women’s 4 x 100m relay team of Printassia Johnson, Strachan and Charlton that clinched the silver behind the USA on her brilliant comeback effort over Jamaica on the anchor leg.

“It was nice having Anthonique there,” Gaither said. “Anytime I line up with one of my countrywomen, it feels like we’re doing it for our country. I love that feeling.”

Gaither, also 29, even noted that she was content with her performance in the race.

“It was my first out of the last four races of my season and so I’m just really allowing myself to fully enjoy these last few moments and trust my body,” she stated.

Charlton sixth

At the Wanda Diamond League meeting in Brussels, World Indoor Commonwealth Games silver medallist Charlton, running out of lane one, ended up sixth in the women’s 100m hurdles in 12.66, but secured her berth into the finals in Zurich, Switzerland, from September 7-8 with a fourth place with 19 points.

Running a season’s best of 12.27 for a meet record, the power packed Olympic champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico took the title over the American duo of Tian James (personal best of 12.38) and former world record holder Kendra Harrison (12.40).

The Jamaican pair of Britany Anderson (12.44) and Megan Tapper (12.51, a personal best as well), finished ahead of Charlton in fourth and fifth respectively.

Camacho-Quinn pushed her lead in the field with 32 points, followed by world record holder Tobi Amusan, the World Championships and Commonwealth Games’ champion from Nigeria, in second with 29 and Anderson in third with 23.

Charlton, 26, was the only Bahamian competing at the meet.