The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Chief Sports Editor

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

AFTER a five-year hiatus, Serena Brown continues to turn in some impressive performances as she makes her way back to the international track and field scene.

Brown, 27, gave her father Whittington Brown a pre-birthday present with her second winning heave of 200-feet, 11-inches or 61.25 metres in the women's discus at the Oklahoma Throws Series at the Millican Field at Throw Town, Ramona, Oklahoma on Sunday. 

Her father's birthday was yesterday and Brown sealed the deal against her only other competitor, Romi Griese of Germany, who was second with 158-0 (48.16m).

Brown, the three-time Bahamian national champion, improved on her previous national record of 199-10 (60.92m) that she posted at her last Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations National Track and Field Championships on June 28, 2021.

It also placed her 34th on the performance list for 2026 and third in the region behind Jamaica's Samantha Hall, who is currently in eighth place with 217-9 (66.39m) and Cuba's Silinda Morales, who is 18th with 209-5 (63.85m). American Valerie Sion tops the list with 239-10 (73.10m).

Still in a celebratory mood as she reflected on her performance, which came on the third of her six throws in the competition, Brown said it still hasn't hit her yet.

"I'm just feeling really grateful. It's been a long time. Five years was the last time I competed at home at the Blue Marlins Track Meet where I was one spot out of qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics," Brown recalled.

"Then I got injured during the fall and got another injury in the spring. I took about two years off because I just needed a break. So I'm back after five years."

On April 30 at the Cameron Burrell Invitational in Houston Texas, Brown won her first comeback meet with a distance of (56.60m) on her second attempt. Her only other legal mark was (53.89) on her first try.

Looking back at her performances so far, Brown said only two words come to mind: "Thank God" because "it's been a long time coming and a long road with the injury and feeling down and out and everything associated with it.

"When I wasn't training or throwing anymore in those five years, I had a lot of doubt and anxiety. Even going into this meet, I had some doubts. But I read Psalms 45 and 46 and that locked me in to say that I could do it and what was for me, I will do it."

Like she did in her first meet in April, Brown said she wanted more, but with the difficulty of throwing in Oklahoma, which is known for its windy conditions, she could only make sure that she didn't get "smacked" in her face.

"My first two throws, I kid you not, I got smacked in the face. The second throw made a u-turn in the air and it went back to 46m, so I was just in shock, but I was glad that I got the 61 on the third and the other marks were 57 and some change.So overall, I think it was a decent throwing series. It was my first time throwing in that type of wind in a very long time. So I was just happy that I was able to get my feet underneath me. But there's definitely room for improvement throwing in those conditions again."

Brown, who is currently training in Pennsylvania with coach Dean Miller, will be heading home for the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations' National Championships next weekend at the Thomas A. Robinson Stadium.

"They named the Commonwealth Games team from March and I wasn't on it, so I'm hoping that I get to go to the CAC Games," Brown said.

"I was hoping to go to the Commonwealth and medal, but I just have to concentrate on CAC and hopefully do it there. If not, I will just work on qualifying for the World Championships next year."

Brown, a 2016 graduate of St Augustine's College, completed her collegiate eligibility at Iowa in 2021 because she graduated from the University of Florida with her undergrad in business and technology and a masters of science in construction management in 2023.

"I was at rock bottom and I was tired of being there and I really didn't want to be there anymore," Brown reflected. "I knew that there was hope in there being room for a lot of improvement and a lot to change.

"I have so many people around me going through so many things like cancer, lost their homes and stuff like that and they bounced back on their feet. Seeing stories like theirs made me realise that this was not the end of the world and I could get back to this level again."