HEADED TO FGC – Grand Bahamian collegiate basketball player Franco Miller Jr. is ready to demonstrate confidence when he suits up for the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles (FGC) in the fall.Grand Bahamian collegiate basketball player Franco Miller Jr. is ready to demonstrate confidence when he suits up for the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles (FGC) in the fall.  The former Tabernacle Falcons’ star decided to end his tenure at Ole Miss (University of Mississippi) and enter the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) transfer portal back in…

July 27, 2020

Simba French

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Athletes were all set to take part in the Bahamas Basketball Federation’s (BBF) Under-17 (U17) Skills Challenge tryouts this past Saturday, and the national team would have been announced today, but due to the national lockdown this past weekend, that event was postponed. The new Emergency Powers (COVID-19) Orders were handed down on Friday, as the country continues to battle the novel coronavirus pandemic.

At this time, there is no definite date as to when the BBF will get the tryouts underway, but the federation sent out a notice stating to stay tuned to their social medial accounts for updates.

On Friday past, Prime Minster Dr. Hubert Minnis announced a lockdown for this past weekend for all islands except Grand Bahama which is already in a two-week lockdown period.

Head Coach for both the male and female national teams Marvin Henfield said he hopes to have some information as to how they will progress by Wednesday.

“I hope that no later than Wednesday we will know something as to what steps are to be taken. We are not canceled at this point; we are just suspended. It is possible that we could find ourselves in the gym to commence soon as well as it is very possible that we may be at the end of this juncture,” Henfield stated.

He added that the final decision will come from BBF President Mario Bowleg, as to the way forward.

The U17 skills challenge is a new competition that FIBA (International Basketball Federation) has brought about during the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose is to have national federations, like the BBF, bring their teams together for a training camp and allow players to enjoy a competitive activity without traveling internationally.

The Bahamas will be participating in the Americas region, where one spot is up for grabs. The competition is a qualifier for the FIBA World Cup Skills Challenge, and it is similar to the NBA Skills Challenge.

The Americas region will hold its competition the week of August 10-16. The world cup finals will be held the week of August 17-23.

Registration for The Bahamas’ tryouts produced 116 applicants. Out of those applicants, 97 were young men and 19 were young women. There were eight Family Island male athletes and 89 from New Providence. The federation had submissions from those eight Family Island athletes who did virtual tryouts. They received those on Saturday and will evaluate them.

Henfield said that he and his coaching staff were looking forward to finishing the tryouts this past weekend.

“From a coaching perspective, we were excited to accomplish a couple of things,” Henfield said. “Obviously, as my time as the head coach, I was excited to meet some of the young prospects that we have both in the male and female category. I was looking to build that relationship and establishing that rapport with them. It was going to be my first time meeting them and the same for them. I was also hoping to see and evaluate the talent that we have in Nassau. I am definitely missing out on an opportunity to meet those athletes. If this does not happen, I would not say to you that I am the most upset man on earth because I know what we have already accomplished behind the scenes, but it will be disappointing. We are hopeful that this event will go on, but ultimately we will wait for the final decision from the competent authority.”

Henfield and his coaching team were hoping to show their capabilities and management skills that included an organizational chart and distinctive roles for each coach. They were excited to put their system into reality.

At the time when the registration began on July 16, Grand Bahama was included, but since then, they’re on a national lockdown, dating from last Thursday at 7 p.m. until August 7 at 5 a.m. The lockdown includes no flights or boats in or out of that island.

Also in his announcement on Friday, Minnis announced that beginning tomorrow, July 28 at 7 p.m., inter-island travel will be discontinued until further notice.

“We know now that the lockdown for the entire country, notwithstanding the length, is somewhat unknown. That challenge exists for the rest of the islands and our athletes being able to travel domestically from their island to New Providence. Some challenges are ahead, even if we were to go on, but we are still waiting on the fence as to what’s the next step and the way forward,” Henfield said.

An update will be given by the BBF at a later date, but for now, everything is on hold.

Apart from Henfield, the coaching and management staff includes Sanchez Moss, assistant coach; Jabari Wilmott, executive manager; Maleah Henfield, executive manager, assistant for the women’s team; Joette Fernander, executive manager, assistant for the men’s team; Garvin Clarke, team manager; Francis Delva, players evaluation manager; and La-Tondra Brown and David Capron, events managers.

Deandre Ayton.

July 27, 2020

Simba French

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Bahamian professional basketball player with the Phoenix Suns DeAndre Ayton appears to be spending more time on the perimeter, going 2-for-2 from three-point territory in two scrimmage games of the National Basketball Association (NBA) season restart this past weekend. His latest three-pointer came yesterday when the Suns fell to the Boston Celtics, 117-103. This came after the Suns’ starting center went 0-for-7 from three-point territory over his two-year NBA career. The first overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft finished with 11 points against the Celtics.

Chavano “Buddy” Hield was in action on Saturday, but he and the Sacramento Kings were not able to come out with a win as they fell to the top team in the NBA’s Eastern Conference, the Milwaukee Bucks. The Kings lost, 131-123. Hield finished with a team-high 19 points.

Ayton played 21 minutes yesterday and finished with seven rebounds to go with the 11 points. A huge chunk of his minutes came in the first half when he played 16 of those 21 minutes.

The big man had some alley-oops, looking comfortable on the floor yesterday. In the Suns’ first scrimmage game on Thursday night, they took down the Utah Jazz, 101-88. Ayton had 13 points and eight rebounds in that game.

“I feel that we are one of the fastest-paced teams right now. We have a great pace and we’re not slowing down at all. We are starting off games pretty strong no matter how our offense looking. We are playing defense  and are very active. We are communicating differently after coming back from my suspension… Everything feels normal. It just feels great and we are a family now,” Ayton told reporters as he wore a Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) hoodie.

In the first half on Sunday, Ayton scored five points and pulled down seven rebounds. He hit a three-pointer from the top-left of the perimeter with 6:26 remaining in the first quarter to put his team up 13-9 – his first bucket of the game.

At the half, the Celtics were up 63-59. Ayton finished with five of those 59 points. After an alley-oop in the third quarter with 7:24 to score his final points on the afternoon, Ayton exited the game as coach Monty Williams kept him out for the remainder of the contest. They will play their final scrimmage game against the Toronto Raptors tomorrow at 3 p.m.

Devin Booker led the way for the Suns with 17 points. Jaylen Brown finished with a game-high 21 points for the Celtics in the win.

Hield and the Kings were happy to have point guard De’Aaron Fox back on the floor despite the loss. The Grand Bahamian went 8-for-18 from the field, shooting 44.4 percent. Known as a three-point specialist, he went 3-for-10 from distance for the second scrimmage game in a row. He is looking to get into rhythm as the season officially gets underway for the Kings on Friday.

The 2020 NBA Mountain Dew Three-Point Champion played 26 minutes against the Bucks. They are still looking for their first scrimmage win, having lost to the Miami Heat on Wednesday, and the Bucks on Saturday.

It looks like Kings’ Head Coach Luke Walton will continue bring Hield off the bench. He checked into the game against the Bucks for Harry Giles III with 7:46 remaining in the first quarter. The sharp shooter’s first bucket came on a three-pointer with 4:10 remaining in the first quarter as the Kings trailed 23-19.

Hield finished the first half with 17 points, but the Bucks led comfortably, 80-60. They coasted to victory in the second half.

The Bucks’ 80 first-half points is not a good indicator for the Kings defensively as they head into the NBA season restart. They play the Los Angeles Clippers in their final scrimmage game today. Hield and the Kings restart the season on Friday against the San Antonio Spurs at 8 p.m. Ayton’s Suns will also restart their season on Friday when they take on the Washington Wizards at 4 p.m.

The Kings and the Suns were two of 22 teams chosen for the NBA restart after the regular season was stopped back on March 11 because of the presence of the COVID-19 pandemic. All the teams are housed at a single-site complex at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, under strict COVID-19 conditions and protocols.

Shaunae Miller-Uibo (right) and Steven Gardiner. FILEJuly 27, 2020Sheldon Longley0289Views

It seems as if the novel coronavirus pandemic hasn’t slowed down three of The Bahamas’ elite athletes as they turned in strong performances this past weekend.

For the first time in her career, Shaunae Miller-Uibo is the world leader in all three sprints – the 100, 200 and 400 meters (m). Steven Gardiner was sub-20 in finishing second to the world champion over that distance, Noah Lyles, and that was in separate heats; and Anthonique Strachan

ANTHONIQUE STRACHAN.

proved that she is back from injury as she ran her fastest time in the women’s 200m in five years on Saturday.

Miller-Uibo and Gardiner both competed at the Back to the Track Meet at the National Training Center in Clermont, Florida; and Strachan ran at Velocity Fest 2020 at Ashenheim Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica.

Miller-Uibo claimed the sprint double, taking the 100m in a personal best time of 10.98 seconds after running 11.03 seconds in the heats; and then coming back the following day and winning the 200m in a season’s best time of 21.98 seconds. Coming into the meet, her previous personal best time in the 100m was 11.19 seconds.

The 26-year-old Bahamian star is now just the fourth female athlete in history to go sub-11 in the 100m, sub-22 in the 200m and sub-49 in the 400m. The others are German world record holder in the 400m Marita Koch; Marie-José Pérec, of France; and American Valerie Brisco-Hooks.

Miller-Uibo is also the sixth Bahamian woman to ever run under 11 seconds in the 100m, joining all five of the “Golden Girls”. American teenager Tamari Davis settled for second in that 100m final in 11.15 seconds on Friday, and fellow American Aleia Hobbs rounded out the top three in 11.16 seconds.

The Bahamian Olympic Champion in the women’s 400m came back the following day and was just as impressive in the 200m as she was in the 100m, blazing to victory in 21.98 seconds. She has now dipped under the world-class elite standard mark of 22 seconds flat in three of the past four years. Hurdler Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, of Puerto Rico, was a distant second in a personal best time of 22.45 seconds, and former National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Champion in the women’s 400m Lynna Irby, of the United States, was third in 22.47.

Over in the men’s 200m, Steven Gardiner was the clear winner in his heat, winning in 19.96 seconds, but finishing second to Lyles overall. The American crossed the finish line in his heat in a world-leading time of 19.94 seconds. American Kenny Bednarek finished third overall in 20.19 seconds. Lyles’ younger brother Josephus was second behind Gardiner in the second heat, and fifth overall, in a personal best time of 20.24 seconds. Divine Oduduru, of Nigeria, finished fourth overall, in 20.22 seconds; and triple Olympic medalist Andre De Grasse, of Canada, was sixth overall, timed in 20.24 seconds.

In Jamaica, representing the Maximising Velocity and Power (MVP) Track and Field Club, Strachan looked strong, winning in 22.72 seconds. Jamaican Natasha Morrison finished a distant second in 23.68 seconds, and another Jamaican, Michae Harriott, settled for third overall, in 23.90 seconds. It was Strachan’s fastest time in five years, ever since she ran 22.69 seconds in Doha, Qatar, in 2015.

The season continues for Bahamian track and field athletes as they try to maintain some fitness in the face of the novel coronavirus pandemic. During the initial months of the spread of the virus, tracks and training centers in the United States and around the Caribbean were closed, and athletes were forced to work out in the vicinity of their homes and nearby parks. Facilities have since opened, and a number of club meets are taking place.

Thursday, August 31, 2017

Shaunae Miller-Uibo wins the women’s 200m followed by second placed Elaine Thompson of Jamaica, centre, and fourth placed Dafne Schippers of Netherlands, right, during the Weltklasse IAAF Diamond League international athletics meeting in the Letzigrund stadium in Zurich, Switzerland. (Walter Bieri/Keystone via AP)

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#WITH half of her mission complete, Shaunae Miller-Uibo will be in Brussels, Belgium, for the last half of the International Amateur Athletic Federation’s Diamond League Final where she will try to add the 400 metre title to the 200m crown she secured a week ago in Zurich, Switzerland.

#Coming off her national record-breaking performance of 21.88 seconds for the victory in the women’s 200m and a hefty cash prize of $50,000 at the Weltklasse Zurich on Friday, Miller-Uibo will go after a repeat feat when she lines up in the 400m at the AG Memorial Van Damme this Friday.

#“I’m expecting as always to compete,” the 23-year-old Miller-Uibo told The Tribune. “It’s going to be my last race for the season so I want to leave on a good note.”

#Going into the race, Miller-Uibo has the third (49.77 seconds), fourth (49.80) and fifth (49.86) fastest times that trail only Americans Allyson Felix (49.65) and Quanera Haynes (49.72), but none of them will be in Brussels. Instead, she will face one of the three women who came from behind as she faltered down the stretch at the IAAF World Championships in London, England, falling from the lead to fourth.

#Salwa Naser, the silver medallist in London, will be among the field that will include three veteran Jamaican competitors – Novlene Williams-Mills, Sherica Jackson and Stephanie Ann McPherson. Also entered are Americans Natasha Hastings and Courtney Okolo. Lydia Jele from Botswana rounds out the field.

#“It’s going to be another great field of ladies, so hopefully we can put on another great show for the public,” Miller-Uibo said.

#If she is successful, Miller-Uibo will become the first female athlete to have won the 200/400m double in the history of the IAAF’s year ending meet, which previously was the Golden League Final where athletes earned points and the top finisher, based on their points accumulated, carted off the overall title.

#Under the previous format, only one Bahamian ever won a Golden League Final title and that was Tonique Williams in the women’s 400m when she set the national record in the event (49.07) – a time she ran in Berlin on September 12, 2004.

#Last Friday, Miller-Uibo matched Williams’ feat when she won the 200m title in Zurich. She came off the final curve in fourth and powered from behind on the straight-away to pull off the win over Jamaican Olympic double sprint champion Elaine Thompson, World Championships double sprint silver medallist Marie-Josee Ta Lou from the Ivory Coast and 200m champion and 100m bronze medallist Dafne Schippers from the Netherlands.

#“The race was fine. I just give God all the thanks and praise for everything,” said Miller-Uibo, who got the bronze in London behind Schippers and Ta Lou.

#Miller-Uibo, who was trying to attempt the 200/400m double at the World Championships, said while she had her share of disappointment in the 400m, it was a little more hurtful to watch in Zurich as Steven Gardiner slipped and fell coming out of the blocks of the men’s 400m last Friday and was unable to complete the race.

#“What happened to Steven was most unfortunate. I actually thought they were going to call the race back, but things like this happen,” she said. “Fortunate enough, he is injury free and I think that is what’s most important. He had a tremendous season and I’m sure that one hiccup won’t bring him down.”

#Gardiner, the Abaco native who turns 22 on September 12, became the first Bahamian to crack the 44-second barrier when he ran 43.89 in the semi-finals at the World Championships to lower his national record.

Wednesday, August 22, 2018

Shaunae Miller-Uibo

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#Elite athletes are now focussing on the International Amateur Athletic Federation’s Diamond League Finals.

#The much anticipated championships-style winner-take-all format is set for the weekend of August 30-31 at the Weltklasse in Zurich, Switzerland and the AG Memorial Van Damme in Brussels, Belgium where the Bahamas will be represented by quarter-milers Steven Gardiner and Shaunae Miller-Uibo as well as high jumper Donald Thomas.

#At stake, in addition to a Diamond Trophy, will be a hefty cash purse that includes $50,000 for first place, $20,000 for second, $10,000 for third, $6,000 for fourth, $5,000 for fifth, $4,000 for sixth, $3,000 for seventh and $2,000 for eighth.

#While Gardiner and Miller-Uibo have earned their berths as one of the top seven qualifiers in the 400m, Miller-Uibo entered as well in the 200m and Thomas is one of the top 12 to crack the line-up in the high jump.

#Over the course of the season, the athletes had a chance to qualify based on points accumulated in 12 meets that started in Doha, Qatar on May 4 and ended on Saturday in Birmingham, Great Britain.

#In preparation of her expected defence of her 200/400m double crown, Miller-Uibo closed out the campaign on a high note in Birmingham where she came from behind on the home stretch in the women’s 200m in the Muller Grand Prix to remain undefeated this season.

#“The 200m isn’t a race that I love. I really like to do it, but not as much as the 400m,” said Miller-Uibo, who remains a double threat going into next weekend’s finals.

#“I’m happy to come out on top and get a pretty fast time. Once I put myself into the race off the curve, I used my 400m strength to power home.”

#While the Weltklasse meet takes place on Thursday, August 30, the AG Memorial Van Damme is set for Friday, August 31 where, if she decides to go for the double again, Miller-Uibo will have her hands full.

#The one-lap race will be contested first, followed by the half-lapper about one hour and 50 minutes later. All indications are that Miller-Uibo will be focusing her attention on the former, but will not rule out the latter.

#She goes into the final occupying the fourth spot in the 200m with 24 points from her three victories. Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson and American Jenna Prandini are tied for first with 28 points and Marie-Josee Ta Lou is third with 25.

#And in the 400m where she is also undefeated in two races, Miller-Uibo is tied for fifth with American Jaide Stepter with 16 points. Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Nasar tops the list with 39 points. followed by Americans Jessica Beard and Phyllis Francis (32 pts each) and Shakima Wimbley (29 pts).

#Also competing in Brussels will be Donald Thomas in the men’s high jump. He skipped the meet in Birmingham to recuperate after turning in a gold medal performance at the Central American and Caribbean Games (CAC) and a bronze win at the North American and Central American and Caribbean Games (NACAC).

#Heading into the meet, Thomas is sitting in third place on the standings with 21 points along with Majd Eddin Ghazal of Syria. Danil Lysenko of Russia heads the list, followed by Olympic and world champion Mutaz Essa Barshim from Qatar.

#Before they compete, Gardiner will return to action in the men’s 400m. He has competed sparingly this season, but remains unbeaten. He will be the only competitor entered in Zurich and will be out to redeem himself after he slipped out of the blocks and didn’t complete the final last year.

#Gardiner, who has been unbeaten in the only two Grand Prix events he competed in this year, is currently in fifth place on the standings with 16 points. Qatar’s Abdalelah Haroun is the leader with 35 points.

Shaunae Miller-Uibo reacts after winning the women’s 200m race, during the Weltklasse IAAF Diamond League international athletics meeting in the stadium Letzigrund in Zurich, Switzerland, Thursday. (Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP)

Friday, August 30, 2019

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#Bahamian Shaunae Miller-Uibo completed the hat trick, winning her third consecutive International Amateur Athletic Federation’s Diamond League women’s 200 metre final in grand style.

#On Thursday in the Stadion Letzigrund at the Weltklasse Zurich in Zurich, Switzerland, Miller-Uibo clocked a personal best of 21.74 seconds to shatter the Diamond League record of 21.77 that was set by American Tori Bowie in 2017.

#In the process, she lowered her Bahamian national record of 21.88 that she set in winning last year’s title and also surpassed the world-leading mark of 22.00 that was established by Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson on June 23 at the Jamaican Nationals.

#Great Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith produced a season’s best of 22.08, while Elaine Thompson had to settle for third in 22.44. Netherlands’ Dafne Schippers ended up fourth in 22.48.

Shaunae Miller-Uibo on her way to winning the women’s 200m (Ennio Leanza/Keystone via AP)

#It was Miller-Uibo’s third consecutive victory in the women’s 200m and her fourth IAAF Diamond League title as she also captured the 400m in the first year of her reign in 2017.

#Now still undefeated in 25 races since she the last World Championships in 2017 in London, England where she got fourth in the 400m and bronze in the 200m, Miller-Uibo now heads to the IAAF World Championships in Doha, Qatar, September 27-October 6 where she will attempt to win her first 400m title.

#Miller-Uibo, 25, is expected to be challenged by Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser, who earlier in the day, won the Diamond League 400m title in 50.24.

#For her efforts on Thursday, Miller-Uibo earned a cash prize of $50,000 for the completion of the 12 event series that started in Doha on May 3 and ended in Paris, France on Saturday.

Shaunae Miller-Uibo poses after winning the women’s 200m final yesterday at the Muller Grand Prix, Diamond League Birmingham 2019 event at the Alexander Stadium, in Birmingham, England. (David Davies/PA via AP)

Monday, August 19, 2019

Shaunae Miller-Uibo wins the 200m Final ahead of Great Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith third right, during the Muller Grand Prix, Diamond League Birmingham 2019 event at the Alexander Stadium, in Birmingham, England, yesterday. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP)

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#Against a star-studded field, Shaunae Miller-Uibo propelled from the middle of the pack to snatch another victory in the women’s 200 metres at the Muller Grand Prix in Birmingham, England.

#Off to a sluggish start yesterday, Miller-Uibo used her lanky, 6-foot-1 frame to power down the home stretch and took command of the race in the final 50 metres to clock 22.24 seconds for the victory.

#Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith was second in 22.36 and Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce third in 22.50. Dutchwoman Dafne Schippers took fourth place in 22.81 with Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare, fifth in 22.83.

#Marie-Josee Ta Lou, winner of the silver medal in both the 100 and 200m at the 2017 World Championships in London, England, ended up eighth in 24.18.

#Miller-Uibo’s time was off her season’s best of 22.09 but the Bahamian national record holder (21.88) said even though she expected a much better performance, she was satisfied with the victory.

#“The race didn’t go to plan,” said the 25-year-old reigning Olympic 400m champion and World Championship 200m bronze medallist. “My start was just horrible and had to rely on that 400m speed to get through.”

#Nonetheless, Miller-Uibo – the double Bahamian 200/400m national record holder – said she was delighted to put on a show for the crowd. The race was part of her preparation for the IAAF World Championships next month in Doha, Qatar.

#“I’m feeling good. Before the race, we had an idea of how we wanted the race to go and it didn’t go as planned,” she added. “So I’m happy for the win and ready to move on to the next.”

#Known for being more of a 200m specialist, sprinter Asher-Smith, 23, said her goal was also to win.

#“I am really happy to have finished second in that race although having said that, I am a competitor, so obviously, I want to win every race,” said Asher-Smith, who was fourth at the last World Championships in the 200m.

Bahamas Shaunae Miller-Uibo wins the Women’s 200m final ahead of Great Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith, during the Muller Grand Prix, Diamond League Birmingham 2019 event at the Alexander Stadium, in Birmingham, England, yesterday. Photo: David Davies/PA via AP

#“To maintain my form and finish strongly against arguably the best 400m runner in the world is good, so all in all, I am happy with that race.”

#Even new mother Fraser-Pryce, better for her exploits in the 100m, said she too was thrilled about her performance, all things considered.

#“You have to take one race at a time and I’m happy with the outcome of today,” stated Fraser-Pryce, the 32-year-old reigning two-time Olympic 100m champion from 2012 and 2008.

#“I don’t think it was bad. I think it was a plus for me. I’m not a great 200m runner, but each time I line up, you never know because I’m ready to go out and attack.”

#After six qualifying events in the race for the Diamond League Final, Asher-Smith holds the lead with 29 points, followed by Schippers with 28. Jamaican Elaine Thompson, the Olympic 100/200 gold medallist, sits in third place with 21.

#Miller-Uibo, although undefeated in her two meetings this year, is in sixth place with 16 points. However, she has not contested a Diamond League 400m this year. The list is headed by Salwa Eid Naser of Bahrain with 32 points in four meets.

#The only other Diamond League meet left is Paris, France on Saturday, August 24. That will take the top eight competitors into the pair of Diamond League finals in Zurich, Switzerland on August 29 and Brussels, Belgium, on September 6.

#Following the Diamond League final, the focus will switch to the IAAF World Championships, scheduled for September 27 to October 6 in Doha when it is expected that Miller-Uibo will go after her first title in the 400m.

#At the last World Championships in London, Miller-Uibo attempted a rare 200/400m double. However, she had a bizarre finish in the final 50m of the 400m and ended up fourth, but bounced back to secure the bronze in the 200m.

Monday, August 20, 2018

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#SHAUNAE Miller-Uibo, running with a heavy heart, relied on some extra external help from her late spiritual leader to boost a fantastic comeback victory in the Muller Grand Prix women’s 200 metres as the International Amateur Athletic Federation’s Diamond League’s 12-race series came to a close on Saturday in Birmingham, England, and with the finals looming in two weeks.

#“I want to give God thanks for another win. I want to point out that I dedicated this race to my pastor, Apostle Rodney Roberts from Five Porches,” Miller-Uibo told The Tribune after the race. “He always said one day he was going to catch one of my international races and so I knew he was watching me from above and I miss him dearly. May his soul rest in peace.”

#Miller-Uibo was referring to the late Apostle Roberts, who died on July 25.

#Inspired by his death, Miller-Uibo went on to clock 22.15 seconds to eclipse the previous meet record held by American Sanya Richards-Ross of 22.25 from June 11, 2006. In the process, Miller-Uibo executed a well-crafted plan to surge past a talented field of competitors to remain undefeated in three races in the half-lap race to go along with her pairs of victories in her one-lap specialty in the 400m.

#“The race went well,” said Miller-Uibo, who used her towering 6ft, 1in frame to maneuver from fourth place coming off the final curve with enough real estate ahead of her to chop down Great Britain’s world leader, Dina Asher-Smith, who led the race until the closing metres to finish second in 22.31, and Netherlands’ world champion Dafne Schippers, who had to settle for third in 22.41.

#She was simply spectacular and very colourful.

#“My coach said I did a good job, so I’ll take that,” stated Miller-Uibo, with her long, flowing two-tone pink and purple dyed hair. “As expected, all of the competitors brought their A games as we all knew it was going to be a competitive race.”

#Asher-Smith was coming off an exceptional European Championships where she dominated the sprints with two world-leading meet records and personal best performances in the 100 and 200m. That carried over in Birmingham where she asserted herself early as the pace setter.

#But as she’s done all season long, Miller-Uibo, the newly minted Bahamian 400m record holder in her last competition a month ago to add her name to the 200m mark she also possessed from a year ago, accelerated into another gear on the home stretch and nobody was able to catch her as she reverted to the shorter race.

#It was Miller-Uibo’s third impressive victory this season over Asher-Smith, who is also having an exceptional showing. After pulling off the gold at the Games in the Gold Coast, Australia in April, leaving Asher-Smith with the bronze, the Bahamian outshone the Briton again at the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Rabat last month where they had a 1-2 finish.

#“I was working on a few things and we’re definitely starting to put it together,” she said. “There are still a few things we have to work on, but for my first competition back in four weeks, I think I did a great job and it was a great feeling to be back on the track in yet another great race.”

#Miller-Uibo, 24, still has some unfinished business to take care of as what is presumably an off-year with neither a IAAF World Championships or Olympic Games on the agenda. She now prepares for the IAAF Diamond League final in Brussels, Belgium, on August 31 where she has qualified for both the 200 and 400m.

#Her performance on Saturday has pegged her at number four in the 200m with 24 points after six races were contested in 12 of the Diamond League meetings. Jamaican Shericka Jackson and American Jenna Prandini are tied for the top spot with 28 points. Ivory Coast’s double World Championship medalist Marie-Josee Ta Lou is next with 25, just ahead of Miller-Uibo.

#In Saturday’s race, they finished in that order behind Miller-Uibo as Jackson was fourth in 22.55, Prandini fifth in 22.58 and Ta Lou seventh in 22.88. Americans Gabrielle Thomas and Kyra Jefferson completed the field in sixth and eighth respectively in 22.85 and 23.26.

#Miller-Uibo, coming off her stunning 48.97 record-breaking performance in Monaco on July 20. is occupying the fifth spot in the Diamond League 400m with 16 points. Bahrain’s rising young star Salwa Eid Naser is out front with 39 points. The USA holds the next three spots with Jessica Beard and Phyllis Francis tied with 32 and Shakima Wimbley with 29.

#Last year, as the IAAF changed the outcome of the final where the athletes qualify to compete for the hefty cash prizes in the final, Miller-Uibo emerged as the double champion. This year, the 400m will be contested first and the 200m will follow about one hour and 45 minutes afterwards.

#Not even Miller-Uibo is certain if she will contest both events this time around.

#“As it relates to the finals, everything is still up in the air and I’ll have to speak things over with my manager and coach,” she summed up.

#Going into the final, Miller-Uibo has posted the fourth fastest time of 22.06 in the 200m, led by Asher-Smith with 21.89 a week ago. But Miller-Uibo heads the 400m list with her 48.97 over Naser’s 49.08.

#Donald Thomas was also scheduled to compete in Saturday’s meet, but he withdrew after his bronze medal performance at the NACAC Championships to go along with his gold at the CAC Games to recuperate for the Diamond League final on August 31 in Brussels. He has qualified tied for third place with 21 points. He has a season’s best of 2.32m or 7ft, 7 1/4in.

#Not as active as the others, national record holder Steven Gardiner is the only other Bahamian qualified for the Diamond League final where is fifth on the list with 16 points. However, his men’s 400m will take on August 30 in Zurich. He goes in with the second fastest time this year of 43.87 behind American Michael Norman, who has ran 43.61.

Shaunae Miller-Uibo, of the Bahamas, smiles after winning the 200m in the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Rabat, Morocco, on Friday. (AP Photo/Mosa’ab Elshamy)

Monday, July 16, 2018

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#SHAUNAE Miller-Uibo showed that she could rely on her six-foot, one-inch frame just as she does her speed.

#After getting out to a sluggish start that left her in the middle of the pack coming off the curve, Miller-Uibo had enough real estate ahead of her as she reeled in English woman Dana Asher-Smith and American Jenna Prandini to propel herself to an impressive comeback victory in the women’s 200 metres at the Meeting International Mohammed VI de Rabit Diamond League meet on Friday with plenty room to spare.

#The victory at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, the capital of Morocco, was so impressive that Miller-Uibo’s time of 22.29 seconds out of lane six erased the meet record of 22.70 that was set by Jamaican Simone Facey in 2014.

#Asher-Smith, who had taken command of the race off the curve, finished in 22.40 with Prandini clinching third place in 22.60.

#“I am very happy about this victory, although I need to work on a few things, especially my start as it is not the best in the 200m,” said Miller-Uibo in a post race interview with the international press in the mixed zone. “I was here last year and I am glad to return because the atmosphere is amazing.”

#Miler-Uibo said her 400m strength was what was able to pull her through after she admitted that her start wasn’t what she had anticipated. But against such a quality field of competitors, she was just thrilled that she was able to storm back for the win to remain undefeated this season.

#The race also featured Murielle Ahoure, the IAAF World Championships’ 200m silver medallist in the Ivory Coast, who had to settle for fifth place in 22.70, the same time as American Gabrielle Thomas, the fourth place finisher.

#Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare-Ighoteguonor, who has the world leading time of 22.04, was seventh in 23.42.

#Miller-Uibo, 24, was the lone Bahamian competing in the meet, the ninth on the IAAF Diamond League.

#In the process, she collected eight more points to push her total to 16 points for third place after she got her second victory to go along with her triumph in her only other meet in the 200m on the Diamond League in Shanghai, China.

#Marie-Josée Ta Lou, the IAAF World Championships’ double sprint medallist in the Ivory Coast, is out front with 19 points in three races with Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson getting 17 points for the second place in the same three meets that Ta Lou competed in.

#And having just competed in one race in the 400m in Eugene, Oregon, Miller-Uibo is now sitting in seventh place in the one-lap race standings with eight points. Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser leads the field with 32 points, having won the 400m in four events on the Diamond League at Oslo, Stockholm, Paris and Switzerland.

#The Bahamas has two other athletes in the running in their respective events. Steven Gardiner, who has posted a pair of victories in Doha, Qatar and Shanghai, China, is occupying second place in the men’s 400m and Abdalleleh Haroun of Qatar holds the lead with 27 points. Gardiner, 22, was the recent winner of the Bahamian Icon Award for Sports.

#And Donald Thomas, 34, has already qualified for the final in the men’s high jump with a third place with 17 points in the four meets the event was hosted in Doha, Eugene, Oslo and Lausanne, Switzerland. He trails Qatar’s Olympic and world champion Mutaz Essa Barshim, who was unbeaten in three meets with 24 points and Danil Lysenko, one of the authorised neutral athletes, with 22 points.

#Trevor Barry, who has appeared in one meet, is sitting in 13th spot in the men’s high jump with just three points.

#Miller-Uibo and Gardiner, who both appeared in the final last year, will have to finish in the top seven to join Thomas in qualifying for another appearance in the final in Zurich and Brussels on August 30 and 31. Last year, Miller-Uibo won the 200/400 double, but Gardiner slipped coming out of his block and didn’t complete the men’s 400m.