The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

Anthonique Strachan continues to display her consistent level of success in leading a field of Bahamians competing on Saturday at the Racers Grand Prix in Kingston, Jamaica.

In the marquee women’s 100 metre event in the National Stadium, Strachan sped to her season’s best of 10.99 seconds as she chased Jamaican MVP Club training partner Shericka Jackson, the winner of the race in a meet record time of 10.78.

“I honestly feel no way about it. I’ve been training and working on fixing certain things,” Sttachan said. “I didn’t get a good start in the race, but I still didn’t panic. I went through the phases and got the season’s best.”

For the second straight year as she continues her training in Jamaica, Strachan has ran under the 11-second barrier in the 100. She joined the elite field of five Bahamians to do so when she clocked her lifetime best of 10.98 last year.

“I’m content because it wasn’t the best execution on my part,” said Strachan, who leads all Bahamian females in the sprints so far this year. “Execution wise, I am just content with finishing because I am not expecting anything time wise.”

Her performance comes on the heels of her scantilizing personal best of 22.15 in her specialty in the 200m at the Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah on May 28 where she again played second fiddle to Jackson, the winner in 21.98. “I’m not sure what’s next,” Strachan said. “I’m definitely training and trying to figure out what I can do to stay consistent,” she said. “I’m hoping to have another meet before I come home (in July).”

Abaco native Steven Gardiner, back in fine form from an injured 2022 season, won the men’s 400m in an impressive time of 44.70, well ahead of America’s Vernon Norwood’s second place finish in 45.11.

A week earlier, Gardiner clocked his season’s best of 44.42 for his win in Bermuda.

The reigning Olympic Games champion has a lifetime best and national record of 43.48 that won him the World Championship title in 2019 in Doha, Qatar.

Back in Jamaica on Saturday, Commonwealth Games champion LaQuan Nairn sliced through the sand pit with a fourth place performance in the long jump of 25-feet, 1 3/4-inches or 7.66 metres. Jamaican Tajay Gayle topped the international field of competitors with his best leap of 26-3 3.4 (8.02m).

Grand Bahamian Donald Thomas produced a clearance of 6-8 3/4 (2.05m) that pegged him at number four on the final stat sheet. Lushane Wilson of GC Foster College soared 7-2 1/2 (2.20m) to out-duel two other Jamiacans behind him.

Promising quarter-miler Wendell Miller, also training out of the MVP Club, had to settle for sixth place in the B final of the men’s 400m in his SB’s best of 46.86 just behind Dennick Luke in 46.54.

Jamaica swept the top four spots led by Ravers’ Antonio Watson in a lifetime best of 44.75. South Africa’s world record holder Wayde van Niekerk showed that he’s progressing back to his tip-top shape since an injury that kept him out the spotlight after his glaring performance won the men’s final race in a meet record time of 44.21.

GC Foster College’s Zandrion Branes was the only other competitor to dip under 45 seconds as he followed van Niekerk in his personal best of 44.90 to lead the rest of the field that featured Jamaicans and Americans.

All of these athletes are gearing up for the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, August 19-27, but they will first have to come home and compete in the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ National Championships in July.