The Tribune

THREE Bahamian masters athletes saw action yesterday at the 2025 World Masters Athletics (WMA) World Indoor Championships at the Alachua County Sports and Event Center in Gainesville, Florida.

Dr Brian Humblestone was the only Bahamian to advance out of the prelims yesterday. 

Competing out of heat two, Dr Humblestone got his legs under him to run a time of 46.39 seconds to finish in third place in the men’s 200m 85-89 semis. He qualified in the top six and posted the fifth fastest time headed into today’s finals.

Dr Humblestone, who trains under Mike Armbrister, said it felt good to advance, especially considering it has been awhile since he has “competed seriously.”

“It feels good. I have never been in these sports before. I used to run as a kid but it’s been a long time since I competed seriously so it feels good.”

He will return to action in the finals today at 3:50pm.

According to Dr Humblestone, he has a chance to at least secure a top three spot in the final round.

“I think I can place and I have a chance for a medal. I am fairly confident for a medal and I shall be disappointed if I do not get at least a bronze. I will try and rely on the Almighty (God) for my health,” he said.

Olympian and masters 55-59 400m world record holder Timothy Munnings did not fare as well in the prelims of the men’s 200m 55-59 event. Munnings clocked a time of 24.98 seconds in heat four but was disqualified due to a lane infraction.

If not for the inopportune disqualification, the 58-year-old would have advanced to the semifinals with the second fastest qualification time just behind the USA’s Craig Wood, who ran 24.09 seconds.

Munnings, who claimed bronze in the 200m at the WMA Outdoor Championships last year, expressed his disappointment in the result.

“I was excited and ready to run the 200m, well prepared but I guess a little bit of inexperience resulted in me getting a lane infraction. I didn’t step out of my lane but I stepped on the lane and one of the competing teams saw the infraction and launched a protest. 

“I felt good about the run. It was very comfortable so I knew had I moved onto the semifinals I would have comfortably moved on to the finals. I am disappointed and I am a little pissed but it comes with the sport. You have your ups and down— but I will regroup and get ready for the 400m and try to be a lot more aware of my lane positioning,” he said.

All is not lost for Munnings as he will have the chance to redeem himself in the men’s 400m 55-59 event on Saturday.

He currently holds the master’s 55-59 world record with a swift time of 51.18 seconds Additionally, he picked up gold in the 400m event at the masters outdoors last season. 

The Olympic bronze medallist intends to use his latest hiccup as fuel going into the 400m semis.

“The 200m would have been more of a warmup for me. Winning a medal in it would have been great but I am much more comfortable in the 400m. The indoor track is a little different so I have to be very careful. Even though the 400m is something I am comfortable with clearly you can make mistakes on a banked curve—I have to be very careful and not overly confident and drop my guard,” he expressed.

Nastasha Brown competed in the women’s 55-59 long jump event. She wrapped up flight one with a jump of 2.96m (9’ 8 ½”) to land at ninth place.

Brown capped off the event 20th overall out of 21 competitors.

Action resumes today for Team Bahamas at the 2025 WMA World Indoor Championships.

Miriam Byfield will get her feet wet in the women’s 35-39 200m heats at 3:30pm. If successful, she will end the day competing in the semis at 6:15pm.

Dr Humblestone will try to earn a podium finish in the men’s 85-89 200m finals at 3:50pm.

The WMA World Indoor Championships are scheduled to wrap up on March 30.