The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

IT was a painful experience over the weekend as Bahamian national javelin record holder Keyshawn Strachan sat and watched the National Collegiate Athletic Assocation's National Track and Field Championships rather than competing in it.

The Auburn University freshman had to skip the biggest collegiate track and field extravaganza of the year at the Mike A. Moore Stadium on the campus of the University of Texas in Austin, Texas, because of a grade one UCL sprain in his right throwing arm.

The injury happened in March and, for the past three months, Strachan has been recuperating with the view of getting ready to compete when he returns home for the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations' National Championships from July 5-7 at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium.

"It was very difficult because I knew what I was capable of doing," Strachan said. "I knew I could have won my first NCAA National title. It was tough for me, but I've been getting the therapy and treatment to help me get over it.

"I'm just trying to get back to the shape that I was in at the beginning of the season. But it was really tough because I knew I had the ability to win the title."

Although he has had limited action since joining Auburn, Strachan threw his lifetime best of 276-feet, 5-inches or 84.27 metres to improve on his national record at the same site at the Texas Relays on March 31.

At the NCAA Championships, the winning throw was 261-9 (79.79m) by Tzuriel Pedigo, a junior at Louisiana State University. That was one of the reasons why Strachan was a little uneasy watching the event because he believed he had the potential to throw much further.

"The only thing going through my mind was that I felt I could have been right there and I probably could have had a good throw on my first attempt and just sat down and watched the competition," Strachan reflected.

"Looking at my progression before the injury, my workout predicted that I would have been able to throw about 87 or 88m. After looking at that, I was really upset. But it is what it is."

Strachan admitted that things happen, injuries are sustained, and he just had to battle with it when it occurred. He got to see the team's physiologist and did it tetrapodic work to try to stay focused.

"I don't feel too bad or get down on myself because things happen. I know I will get over the injury and so I'm just waiting for them to give me the clearance to compete again," Strachan said.

"I was a little concerned, thinking about what if I don't come back to the level that I was at, but they told me it's just a mental thing. In three weeks I should be good and ready to go again. I should not let it get to my head or play with my mind. I am just trying to stay positive."

The good thing is Strachan doesn't have to undergo any surgery. He will remain in Auburn until it's time for him to come home on June 24. In the meantime, he will continue to work on his therapy.

While he didn't get the opportunity to pick up the coveted national title, Strachan said he was glad to watch as Rhema Otabor, a junior at Nebraska, secured her national title in the women's javelin.

She did it with a winning heave of 195-2 (59.49m), although her toss of 193-8 (59.04m) in the first round had pushed her in front of the 12-woman field that didn't have anyone come close to her performances.

"I wasn't even shocked. I trained with Rhema for the past six plus years, so I know what she was capable of doing," he said. "She came into the event, almost didn't make it. But things happen. I know when the competition starts, she will do her thing."

Strachan said he knew his Blue Chips Throwers Club teammate would accomplish the feat. He congratulated her and their coach, Corrington Maycock, who helped to prepare her for her collegiate journey before she got to Nebraska.

Both Strachan, 19, and Otabor, 20, are hoping to make the Bahamas team that will compete in the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary from August 16-27. Aslnthough neither have done the qualifying standard, their performances have them in a position to earn an invite from World Athletics, the governing body for the sport.