16-SPORTS

16 THE FREEPORT NEWS Monday, March 12, 2018 SPORTS

AVARD MONCUR STEVE GARDINER Bahamas’ men’s 1600 meters prominent status challenged Birmingham indicated lack of Bahamian men’s 400 meters depth he Bahamas was rep- Munnings. The very next year, in Ed- again, were Brown, McIntosh, the 1600 meters relay. Pinder a silver). resented by just one On that huge world sports monton, Canada in the Alber- Oliver, and Munnings. At that With Chris Brown (The Eter- also won two quarter-miler at the re- stage however, leading up to ta Province at the 2001 IAAF moment in time, they reigned nal One) providing stability for World Relays IAAF men’s 1600 centT Birmingham IAAF World the 1600 meters relay final, Av- World Outdoor Championships, supreme over the entire world. the most part, going into the meters silver medals (2014, Indoor Championships. It was ard Moncur was outstanding. Moncur and his 400 meters col- Yes indeed, The Bahamas was 2018 Birmingham IAAF Indoor 2015), and the World Relays Alonzo Russell and he was He had advanced almost to the leagues cemented the rise of at the top of the world in the event The Bahamas had won Mixed 1600 meters disqualified in the first round. final of the open 400 meters. The Bahamas as definitely, one men’s 1600 meters relay. four Olympic medals (2012 in 2017. Let’s not forget, that He didn’t get a further oppor- Actually his 45.18 clocking that of the world’s power countries. Through the years, with oth- gold, 2008 silver, and a 2016 Steve Gardiner won the silver tunity to add to the glowing medal in the 400 meters at the legacy of The Bahamas, built 2027 IAAF Outdoor World by the depth of men’s 400 me- “Eighteen years ago at the Championships in . ters sprinters through the years. Clearly over the period, Also, there was not a 1600 in , , The Bahamas sent a qui- 2000-to-now, The Bahamas has men’s relay squad in Birming- been second only to The United ham, carrying Bahamian colors. et message to the world about what was to States in consistency, regarding There does not seem to be a men’s 1600 meters relay inter- whole lot of men’s 400 meters national competition and has talent on the horizon for the come for the country through its prime 400 been qualitative, on an individ- country, either. ual basis as well. We are thus forced to ponder meters men sprinters. The Bahamas placed Today, in my view, we have a particular question that relates just Gardiner, directly to the incredible men’s fourth initially in the 1600 meters relay final and Russell who can be counted 400 meters depth we once on to be competitive, consistent- boasted of. and eventually moved up to bronze when FRED STURRUP ly, during international compe- “Is The Bahamas at the end titions. Pinder still seems to be of that long run as one of the the winning United States team was disqual- trying to get back to where he top countries the world over in was before the devastating inju- men’s 1600 meters relay run- ified. That Bahamas’ team included Avard ry he suffered, during ning? ports the Chris Brown Bahamas Invi- Eighteen years ago at the tational back in 2013. Miller has Olympic Games in Sydney, Moncur, Chris Brown, , Troy McIn- been beset with injuries. Australia, The Bahamas sent So, I ask again. a quiet message to the world tosh and Tim Munnings.” cope Is The Bahamas at the end of about what was to come for the that long distinguished run as country through its prime 400 missed getting into the top four Moncur ran a blazing 44.64 in er names (Andre Williams, bronze to go along with the one of the world’s power coun- meters men sprinters. The Ba- of an incredibly fast first semi- the final of the 400 meters open Nathaniel McKinney, AndrettiS bronze of 2000); four Outdoor tries in the men’s 1600 meters hamas placed fourth initially in final heat (inclusive of Ameri- race and succeeded the great Bain, , LaToy IAAF World Championships relay event? the 1600 meters relay final and cans Michael Johnson and Al- American Johnson as the world Williams and ) relay medals (2005 silver, 2007 One looks apprehensively eventually moved up to bronze vin Harrison), was better that champion for the event. In the coming on stream as Munnings, silver and 2003 bronze added to into the future for the true an- when the winning United States the winning time in the second 1600 meters relay final, Moncur McIntosh, Oliver and finally the 2001 gold); a 2016 Indoor swer. team was disqualified. That semi-final heat. solidified his status as the best Moncur moved off the scene, IAAF relay silver plus a slew (To respond to this column, Bahamas’ team included Av- A young Chris Brown had ad- quarter miler in the world at that the Bahamian 400 meters male of individual IAAF Indoor in- kindly contact Fred Sturrup at ard Moncur, Chris Brown, Carl vanced beyond the first round as time, by leading The Bahamas sprinters would excel in the dividual medals won by Brown [email protected] or on Oliver, Troy McIntosh and Tim well. to the gold medal. With him yet open sprints and especially in (gold, silver, three bronze, and WhatsApp at 727-6363). GB athletes capture more gold at National T/F Championships swept the Under-13 division in the 200 of 27.91 seconds. finished in the time of 24.10 seconds, Romell Russell of St. George’s High SHAYNE STUBBS meters finals. Much like she did last Tabernacle pulled off a sweep in the well under the CARIFTA standard of (STGH) also landed the bronze med- FN Sports Reporter month at the Island event, Shatalya U-15 division. Stephanique Dean be- 24.55 seconds. Moss finished slightly al in the U-20 boys’ 200 meters. He [email protected] Dorsett added the 200 meters gold after came the reigning U-15 girls’ national over that in the time of 24.76 seconds. clocked 22.53 seconds. C.V Bethel’s having won the 400 meters crown this champion in the time of 25.63 seconds. Eight Mile Rock High’s D’Vontae (CVB) Jude Murray won the gold in Grand Bahama athletes captured 36 ti- past Thursday. Dorsett took the 200 me- Paige Archer (QC) was the eventual Forbes had no trouble in the U-17 boys’ 22.14 seconds. Adrian Curry (SAC) tles during the 2018 National Track and ters gold in the time of 27.26 seconds. winner in 25.89 seconds, 200 meters final. Forbes strode easily to took the silver in the time of 22.22 sec- Field Championships that concluded on Sarah Hepburn of Queen’s College with St. Andrew’s D’Arjha Davis set- the national crown in the time of 22.53 onds. Sunday in New Providence. (QC) took the silver medal in 27.85 tling for the bronze in 26.08 seconds. seconds, just over a second off the The 4x100m closed out day two. Sun- On Friday and Saturday, this island’s seconds and Demia Bowe of Patrick J Tabernacle’s Deangelo McKie contin- CARIFTA standard of 21.92 seconds. land opened the action for GB with a representatives added 22 national ti- Bethel High (PJBH) won the bronze in ued his run of dominance in the U-15 Litcinov Delhomme (PJBH) landed the finish in the U-13 girls’ tles to the 14 won on day one this past the time of 28.05 seconds. boys’ 200 meters. His time of 22.93 silver medal in 23.32 seconds, while 4x100m final. The team of Dorsett, Kai- Thursday. Following is a summary of Solange Sargent of Jack Hayward Ju- seconds bested the field in his gold fellow EMRH Blue Jay Damico Austin ly Pratt, Liberty Thompson and Cyniah day two and day three of the competi- nior (JHJ), finished fourth in the time of medal romp. Jamaal Flowers (QC) took won the bronze in 23.47 seconds. Maycock clocked a time of 56.91 sec- tion: 28.22 seconds. the silver in the time of 23.98 seconds, Two bronze medal finishes were the onds. Queen’s College runners were the Day Two - Friday, March 9 Malik Wood of Sunland Baptist com- and SAC’s Otto Laing won the bronze highlights for Grand Bahama in the eventual gold medal winners in 54.96 Day two at the Thomas A. Robinson pleted the U-13 double in the boys’ in 24.37 seconds. U-20 division. Kaylin Hewitt (TBCA) seconds, while Huntley Christie High Stadium was highlighted by Tabernacle 200 meters. Wood became the national It was a bronze medal finish for Tab- secured the bronze medal for her school took the silver medal in 55.49 seconds. Baptist Christian Academy (TBCA) se- champion of that division in the time ernacle’s Collinigue Farrington in the in the time of 26.03 seconds. Donie- The quartet of Kirshawn McIntosh, curing four out of eight national titles of 25.97 seconds. St. Augustine’s Col- girls’ U-17 200 final. She finished with sha Anderson (SAC) was the eventual Denard Adderley, Philando Williams in the various 4x100 meters finals, and lege’s (SAC) Tumaini Skinner landed a time of 25.60 seconds. CARIFTA gold medal winner in the time of 24.53 and Levaughn Parker landed the na- more than half of the 200 meters titles the silver medal in the time of 27.70 favorites Jaida Knowles and Megan seconds. Wendira Moss of St. John’s tional U-13 boys’ 4x100 meters crown national crowns, by winning five. seconds, and SBA teammate Cordae Moss, both representing SAC, took the College (SJC) took the silver in 24.75 for TBCA. The team passed the baton Sunland Baptist Academy (SBA) Strachan secured the bronze in the time gold and silver respectively. Knowles seconds. (Continued on Page 11)