Shaunae Miller-Uibo (left) wins the 200m at the Weltklasse IAAF Diamond League international athletics meeting in the Letzigrund stadium in Zurich, Switzerland, on August 24. (Walter Bieri/Keystone via AP)

Monday, September 4, 2017

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#Despite what happened to her at the 16th IAAF World Championships in London, England, last month, Shaunae Miller-Uibo said she was able to live out her purpose by winning the back-to-back IAAF Diamond League Finals in the 200 and 400 metres over the last two weekends.

#“It feels great. To God be the glory, great things he has done,” Miller-Uibo told The Tribune over the weekend following her latest achievement in Brussels. “I understand that it is a first for the Bahamas and I am truly happy to be a part of this history.”

#Miller-Uibo, 23, was referring to the fact that she emerged as the first Bahamian to cash in on two year-ending finals, surpassing Tonique Williams, whom she joined (as the first to win a Golden League title as it was back then in 2004) when she captured the first title in a national record breaking performance in the women’s 200 metres at the Zurich Weltklasse two weeks ago.

#On Friday, the six-foot-1 Miller-Uibo closed out her account for the year as she added the 400 metres crown with a world leading time of 49.46 at the Van Damme Memorial in Brussels, pushing her hefty payday to $100,000 – $50,000 each for the victories.

#Despite the cold and wet conditions following torrential rains in Brussels, Miller-Uibo pulled away from the youthful Salwa Eid Naser, who also broke the 50-second barrier as she set a Bahrain record of 49.88 for second.

#“The competition as always was very fierce and the joy of the challenge keeps it interesting,” said Miller-Uibo about facing three of the seven other finalists from London, including Naser, the silver medallist. “The weather was a little chilly and wet, but the response from my coach was that we executed the race model.”

#That was the model she had expected in London, England, when she surged to the front only to miscalculate her step after taking a peep at the big screen and faltered to fourth in the 400m before she bounced back to take the bronze in the 200m. In the process, she earned $35,000, inclusive of $20,000 for the half-lap race and $15,000 for the one-lapper.

#From what transpired, Miller-Uibo called it a valuable age-old lesson learnt.

#“From since I was a child, I learned and understood that God’s timing will always be perfect,” she said. “And God blessed me with two Diamond League wins, a national record and a world-leading time to end the season. So I count my blessings and thank him for them.”

#And putting her two showings in perspective after the Worlds, Miller-Uibo admitted that they were “equally satisfying because in the 200m, I got a national record and in a world-leading time in the 400m.”

#With her season over and done with, Miller-Uibo is preparing to return home before next Friday for another Shaunae Miller-Uibo Day at her alma mater at St Augustine’s College. But she expressed her disappointment in hearing that there won’t be any official celebrations for her nor Steven Gardiner, the World Championship men’s 400m silver medallist.

#“I am very disappointed that there is no celebrations, mainly for Stevie Gasdiner,” she said. “I feel extremely bad seeing that this is his first international medal and that being a silver, makes him the second best in the world.

#“Instead of him being celebrated, from what I am understanding, he is being persecuted by his own federation. This is very disturbing. The silver lining to this story is that the rest of the world is celebrating Mr Gardiner’s success.”

#Claude Bryan, the chief executive officer of On Track Management, Inc, the Atlanta, Georgia-based promotional track group that manages both Miller-Uibo and Gardiner, said they will not comment on the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ decision to hold a tribunal to ascertain why he didn’t run the heats of the men’s 4 x 400m relay in London on the request of head coach Dianne Woodside-Johnson.

#He would only state that: “I am sure Moore’s Island and the rest of the Bahamas are appreciative of his efforts and if history is our guide, the Bahamas has not been shy in giving due to its athletes when they fly the black, aquamarine and yellow.”

#Looking back at what the two Bahamian quarter-milers did this year, Bryan said it’s just the tip of the iceberg for Miller-Uibo and Gardiner.

#“Shaunae is on an upward trajectory and what we witnessed this year is just the continuation of what should ultimately unfold as a stellar career,” said Bryan, the chief executive officer of On Track Management.

#As for Gardiner, he completed his year by slipping out of the blocks in the men’s 400m in the Diamond League Final at the Zurich Weltklasse last week.

#The race came after Gardiner picked up a silver medal in London, two days following his historic run in the semi-final where he became the first Bahamian to crack the 44-second barrier, lowering his national record to 43.89.

#“Stevie is a gem and from coach (Anthony) Williams to coach (George) Cleare to coach (Gary) Evans, the mantra has always been ‘gently apply the polish,’” Bryan said.

#“He will shine in due time. Coach Evans understands this and Stevie has been responding in line with expectations.”

#Bryan said they will continue to “apply the polish” on Gardiner as they look ahead to the future for the soon-to-be 22-year-old (September 12) 6-2 native from Murphy Town, Abaco.

SHAUNAE MILLER meets BTC executives.

Friday, September 18, 2015

#AFTER her stunning performances at the IAAF World Championships in Beijing, China, where she captured a silver medal in the 400 metres and the IAAF Diamond League in Brussels, Belgium, where she won the gold, BTC-sponsored star athlete Shaunae Miller was welcomed home by the BTC executive management team at the company headquarters.

#Miller, 21, has been a BTC athlete since 2013 and stated that she is grateful for the impact the sponsorship has had on her career. “Funding is a must to compete at the level I do,” she said. “BTC helps my career by defraying costs and the exposure I am given throughout the Bahamas. When my photo is placed on the phone cards, the posters, the billboards and the commercials, it makes me proud to be a BTC athlete. “It feels good to be associated with a winning brand. BTC is always in my corner and I am proud to say BTC keeps me connected to the world.”

Shaunae Miller in action in Beijing. (AP)

Wednesday, December 30, 201

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#As a double threat this year, Shaunae Miller’s stunning record breaking performance at the Jamaican Invitational in Kingston, Jamaica, and her silver medal feat at the 15th International Amateur Athletic Federation’s World Championships in Beijing, China earned her The Tribune’s Female Athlete of the Year honour. She managed to out-stride professional swimmer Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace and Grand Bahamian collegiate basketball player Jonquel Jones to secure the top spot.

#Here’s how it all unfolded:

#1 Shaunae Miller

#All year long, 21-year-old Miller sat among the top five in the rankings in both the women’s 200 and 400 metres on the IAAF list and there was more debate on which event she would contest until she made her final decision about a month out of the championships to go with the one lap race after she came off a near season-ending injury in the half-lap race during a Diamond League meet in Monaco on July 17.

#It turned out to be the greatest decision she made this year as she ended up as the silver medallist in Beijing in a personal best of 49.67 seconds. American Allyson Felix ran 49.26 for the gold in the highly anticipated showdown on August 27. Jamaican Shericka Jackson had to settle for the bronze in 49.99.

#Miller posted seven of the top times this year in the quarter-mile, losing just twice on the year. The only other time came on June 13 in New York City where American Francena McCorory won in 49.86, compared to Miller’s 50.66. The only thing Miller did accomplish in the event was break Tonique Williams’ national record of 49.07 that she set in Berlin, Germany, on September 12, 2004.

#However, Miller did ink her name in the national record books when she clocked 22.14 to win the Jamaican Invitational in Kingston, Jamaica, on May 9 to erase the previous mark of 22.19 that was set by Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie in Saint Denis, Paris on July 3, 1999. In Kingston, Miller won over a star-studded field that included American Tori Bowie, second in 22.29 and Jamaican Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who was third in 22.37.

#Incidentally in Beijing, Dafne Schippers from the Netherlands pulled off the victory in the world-leading time of 21.63 ahead of a Jamaican duo of Elaine Thompson in 21.66 and Veronica Campbell-Brown in 21.97 for the silver and bronze respectively.

#For her efforts, Miller was named the Most Outstanding Athlete at the inaugural Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture’s Awards Banquet, organised by Adrian Francis of Workforce Bahamas during the Sports Heritage Month in November in the Atlantis ballroom on Paradise Island. Additionally, Miller walked away with the Female Athlete of the Year award. And she was listed among the candidates for the Caribbean Sports Journalists Association (CASJA), which was fittingly presented to Fraser-Pryce after her dominance of the women’s 100m at the Beijing World Championships.

#2 Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace

#The 25-year-old two-time Olympian produced a national record in the women’s 100 metre butterfly in 58.87 seconds at the 2015 Arena Pro Series in Atlanta, Georgia, as she continued to make her splash on the professional circuit.

#But at the end of the year, Vanderpool-Wallace found her name on the list of Central American and Caribbean and South America’s Female Swimmer of the Year. She eventually had to settle for third place in the Swim Swam, one of the world’s leading swim sites. Carting off the award was Jamaican Alia Atkinson, a double medallist at the FINA World Aquatics Championship in Kazan, Russia where she got the silver in the 50m breaststroke and a bronze in the 200m breast.

#Vanderpool-Wallace, winner of third place in the final standings, was a double medallist at the Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada where she got the national anthem to be played as the flag was raised for her gold in her specialty in the 50m free along with a bronze in the 100m free. Vanderpool-Wallace also claimed two gold medals at the Bolzano International Swim Meet in Italy.

#Brazilian Etiene Medeiros edged out Vanderpool-Wallace for the second spot on the list behind Atkinson after she clinched four medals, including a gold in the 100m back at the Pan Am Games and a silver in the 50m backstroke at the World Championships.

#3 Jonquel Jones

#Every time you heard about the Colonials women’s basketball team, it was Grand Bahamian native Jones making the headlines at George Washington University.

#The 6-foot, 4-inch forward is having a sensational senior year as the reigning Atlantic 10 Player and Defensive Player of the Year. Through the first 10 games of the 2015-16 season, and in her career as a whole, GWsports.com has produced some interesting statistics on this potential Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) high draft pick.

#Just to post some of the accolades:

#After falling short last year as a junior, Jones is back on the watch list as a candidate for the National Player of the Year for the Naismith Trophy, John R Wooden Award and the USBWA Ann Meyers Drysdale Award. Her position has been bolstered by the fact that she has already earned three Atlantic  Player of the Year honours, increasing her total to 11 for a GW record as well.

#Individually, she is the top ranked national rebounder, averaging 15.8 boards per contest, has made five three-pointers – a career high, accumulated eight straight double-doubles, second most nationally, five 20-point games this year to push her career total to 18, has a pair of 20-point, 20-rebound performances.

#The only thing left is for Jones and the Colonials to go all the way and win the NCAA title next year as she completes her stellar career at GW. When she graduates next year, the 22-year-old Jones hopes to leave with her degree in criminal justice.

#Honourable mentions for those who will be among the top 10, but in no particular order, are as follows:

#Swimmer Joanna Evans, who had a sensational run at CARIFTA and went on to represent the Bahamas at the Pan American Games, swimmers Ariel Weech and Laura Morley, who both competed at the Pan Am Games, Lashann Higgs, now starring for the Texas Longhorns women’s basketball team, long jumper Bianca ‘BB’ Stuart, who won a silver medal at Pan Am, but fell short of making the final at the IAAF World Championships, hurdler Devynne Charlton, who had a record-breaking performance at Purdue University, sprinter Carmeisha Cox at Purdue University, sprinter Tynia Gaither at the University of Georgia, sprinter Tayla Carter at Western Carolina, Adanaca Brown, who had a breakout year in the hurdles and sprints, elite sprinters Anthonique Strachan and Sheniqua ‘Q’ Ferguson, who competed at the Pan Am and World Championships respectively and bowler Driskell Rolle, who made it back to the 51st QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup in Sam’s Town, Las Vegas, and gymnast Kianna Dean, who made it to the Pan American Games.

#Note: If anyone was left off the list, it was not intentional. We apologise in advance for any athletes not mentioned.

But what about the $5,000 for Leevan Sands and Trevor Barry?

Shaunae Miller in action in Beijing. (AP)

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#The Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture is expected to pay out some $50,000 in incentives to women’s 400 metres silver medallist Shaunae Miller, men’s 400m hurdles bronze medallist Jeffery Gibson and high jumper Donald Thomas for making the top eight as finalists at the 15th IAAF World Championships in Beijing, China.

Donald Thomas competes in the men’s high jump qualification at the World Athletics Championships at the Bird’s Nest stadium in Beijing. (AP)

#But national triple jump record holder Leevan ‘Superman’ Sands and high jumper Trevor Barry are both questioning why they are being excluded from receiving the $5,000 when they made the final for their respective events in Beijing. Unlike the track events where the top eight (with the exception of the distance races) carry the top eight into the final, the field events have a total of 12 athletes qualified for the final.

Leevan Sands competes in Beijing. (AP)

#According to Timothy Munnings, the director of sports, the ministry’s sports policy calls for all gold medallists at the Olympic Games or World Championships to receive $40,000, the silver $30,000 and bronze $15,000, while all those athletes making the top eight will collect $5,000.

#When asked why they were not included, Munnings said the sports policy only calls for the top eight and in the case of Sands, who finished 10th in the triple jump and Barry, who was 10th overall in the high jump, will have to write into the ministry for clarification or speak directly with Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Dr Daniel Johnson, who has the power to make any exception.

#Johnson was unavailable for comments up to press time last night.

#As it stands now, Miller is expected to receive $30,000 for her silver in a personal best of 49.47 seconds to finish behind American Allyson Felix’s gold medal run of 49.26 for the world leading time and Gibson, who lowered his national record to 48.17 for the bronze behind Kenya’s Nichlas Bett (world leading 47.79) and Russia’s Denis Kudryavtsev (national record of 48.05), will pick up a cheque for $15,000.

#Thomas, on the other hand, will collect $5,000 for finishing sixth at 7-feet, 6-inches in the men’s high jump final that saw Candian Derek Drouin secure the gold with 7-8 followed by Ukraine’s Bohden Bondarenko and China’s Guowei Zhang in a tie for the silver at 7-7 3/4. Barry was also a finalist, placing 10th at 7-4 1/2.

#Sands found himself in the same situation as Barry as he got 10th in the men’s triple jump final with 54-8 3/4. The event was won by American Christian Taylor with a world leading lap of 59-9 with Cuban Pedro Pichardo getting the silver with 58-2 and Nelson Evora of Portugal taking the bronze with 57-5 3/4.

#In what has been a fantastic comeback year for Sands, who has bounced back miraculously after undergoing surgery to repair a torn knee in an injury he sustained competing in the final of the 2012 London Olympics, noted that he was quite disappointed on hearing the news.

#“This is my first year back. I came out and made the final and it wasn’t an easy task to do,” he said. “For me to come back in my first year triple jumping after the injury, I think it was well deserved considering that I made the final at the World Championship this year.

#“I read the sports policy and it says elite athletes that make the final are eligible to receive $5,000. After the first day of competition in the triple jump, it said Leevan Sands made the final. So I had the final the next day. In the field event, they take the top 12.

#“So you have 12 finalists in the field events, In the track, they only have eight lanes, so you have eight finalists. Are they saying that I didn’t make the final? That’s my question. Did I make the final? I know I worked very hard this year to achieve what I did this year. It wasn’t easy, so I expected to at least get the compensation from the government as a finalist.”

#Sands said he only made the inquiry after he heard that Munnings had indicated in a press statement in Beijing that only the top eight will be compensated. But Sands said he’s confused because the sports policy said once you make the final, you get the incentive from the government.

#“So I’m very disappointed because I worked very hard for the past two years and I think it is well deserved,” he said.

#Coupled with that, Sands said he was told by other athletes in the past, who were rewarded for advancing to the final in field events even though they didn’t medal or get into the top eight, so he still can’t understand why he and Barry are not included this year.

#While there maybe some consideration given to Sands and Barry for getting into the final, Munnings also noted that the ministry is reviewing its subvention to the elite athletes as there has been a number of changes on who is still on, who has been removed and who has been added.

#He said by the end of the month, the ministry should be able to provide a definitive number and provide a new contract for the athletes to sign, which outlines what is expected of them and what procedure will be used to distribute the funds to the athletes.

Donald Thomas competes in the men’s high jump qualification at the World Athletics Championships at the Bird’s Nest stadium in Beijing. (AP)

Sunday, August 30, 2015

#From BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#in Beijing, China

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#WITH NO team in the grand finale – the men’s 4 x 400m relay – Team Bahamas closed out competition at the 15th IAAF World Championships with two competitors in the men’s high jump final on Sunday at the Bird’s Nest Stadium.

#Donald Thomas soared to sixth place for the second consecutive championships at 2.29m (7ft 6in) and Trevor Barry, back in the championships since he won the bronze medal in 2011 in Daegu, ended up tenth with 2.25m (7ft 4 1/2in).

#The unpredictable showdown concluded with a jump-off between the three medallists after they finished in tie at 2.33m (7ft 7 3/4in).

#Derek Drouin, the Olympic champion and bronze medallist from the 2013 championships, won the gold with 2.34m (7ft 8in) and defending champion Bohdan Bondarenko, of Ukraine, and China’s colourful Guowel Zhang tied again for the silver at 2.33m.

#Thomas, the 31-year-old Grand Bahamian native now coached by Cuban world record holder Javier Sotomayor in Cuba, took a gamble when he passed at the fourth height of 2.33m and opted to go up to the fifth height of 2.36m (7ft 8 3/4in). But he missed all three attempts.

#At the third height of 2.29m, Thomas got his first knockdown and and Barry followed with another, However, Thomas cleared at the second attempt, but Barry missed his second and on his third, his right leg hit the bar and he was eliminated with five others.

#While Thomas remained with a clean slate at the second height of 2.25m, Barry moved into ninth spot with he cleared the mark on his first attempt. The first competitor to be eliminated was Konstadinos Baniotis of Greece, at the height.

#Again, Thomas had no problems going over the opening height of 2.20m (7ft 2 1/2in) but Barry had to go to his third and final attempt to avoid an early elimination. Only Barry and Baniotis had difficulties clearing the opening height. Baniotis cleared it on his second attempt to sit in 13th place with Barry at the bottom in 14th.

#Ryan Ingraham, the other member of the jumping trio for Team Bahamas, failed to advance to the final from the qualifying round on Saturday. Competing with a slight injury he sustained at the Pan American Games where he won bronze, bowed out with a best of 2.26m for a two-way tie for 25th place.

#The Bahamas were eliminated from the final of the men’s 4 x 400m relay for the third consecutive championship. This time, on Saturday, Michael Mathieu had a lane violation on the second leg as the team of Steven Gardiner, Alonzo Russell and Ramon Miller, who finished second, were disqualified.

#The Bahamas finished tied with Trinidad & Tobago and Ukraine for 20th spot in the medals table with the one silver from Shaunae Miller in the women’s 400m and the bronze from Jeffery Gibson in the men’s 400m hurdles.

#Kenya, surprisingly, held on for the top spot with seven gold, six silver and three bronze for 16 medals. Jamaica surged into second with seven gold, two silver and three bronze for 12 and the United States rounded out the top[ three with six gold, six silver and six bronze for a total of 18 medals.

#And in the placings table, the Bahamas was 19th overall with a second, third and sixth place for 16 points. The US, however, turned the tables by winning with 214 points, compared to Kenya’s 173 for second and Jamaica with 132 for third.

#The focus now switches to London, England, for the 16th IAAF World Championships from August 5-13, 2017. Next year the athletes will compete in the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Portland, Oregon, from March 17-20 and the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from August 5-21.

#See Monday’s edition of The Tribune for full wrap up and photos of the championships.

Donald Thomas competes in the men’s high jump qualification at the World Athletics Championships at the Bird’s Nest stadium in Beijing. (AP)

Friday, August 28, 2015

Trevor Barry in action in Beijing. (AP)

#From BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#in Beijing, China

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#TWO OF the three male high jumpers have bolstered Team Bahamas’ chance of climbing up the medals table at the 15th IAAF World Championship here when they compete in the final on Sunday night at the Bird’s Nest National Stadium.

#Donald Thomas,looking to regain the form that enabled him to win the 2007 world title in Osaka, Japan, and Trevor Barry, coming off his silver medal performance at the Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada, last month, clinched their berths in the final.

#They both finished in a five-way tie for 10th place with 2.29 metres (7ft 6in) and will be among a field of 14 of the top jumpers on the planet when the high jump take the spotlight on Sunday, starting at 6.30 am EST.

#Team Bahamas was hoping for a triple threat, but national champion Ryan Ingraham had to bow out of the competition during the qualification round on Friday with a best of 2.26m (7fft 5in) that left him tied for 25th place overall.

#For both Thomas and Barry, they are right where they want to be – in the final.

#“It was good. It was an early morning. Thank God I got through the qualification. That is always the most difficult part,” Thomas pointed out. “I’m just looking forward to the final.”

#En route to qualifying, Thomas made the first attempt on all of the heights he had to jump until he got to 2.31m (7ft 7in). He missed for the first time and passed up the second after he realised that he was safely through on countback.

#“First attempts are always crucial,” Thomas said. “That takes you into the final.” And looking forward to the final, he gave this assurance to the Bahamian people.

#“You can expect us to go out there and represent the 242 to the best of our abilities,” he said. “This is what we train for. It’s going to be nice and fun.”

#The fun for Barry will be in the fact that he is in the final after competing in the event in 2011, but had to skip 2013 because of an injury.

#“I’m glad that I made the final,” Barry told The Tribune. “That’s one step to trying to get to the podium. It was tough competition. It’s always a mental thing, just trying to get through on the first attempt.”

#As for the final, Barry said if both he and Thomas can find their rhythm early, the Bahamas will be a force to be reckoned with in the final. “It’s always good to have two countrymen in the final. Unfortunately, we couldn’t bring Ryan along, but we’re going to go out there and do our thing.”

#The duo had some comforting words of encouragement for Ingraham, who was nursing a slight left (jumping) knee injury that he sustained at the Pan Am Games, where he followed Barry for the bronze medal.

#“It was hot, but it was good jumping temperature, so hopefully I can get it together next year,” he said. “Hopefully I can qualify for the Olympics in Rio and I can do better there.”

#Ingraham said he was more concerned about the injury but was more surprised that he jumped as high as he did.

#“It could have been better, I wanted to jumper higher, but I can’t feel sad,” said Ingraham, in his second non-appearance in the final at the global meet. “Next year. But it was good to be out there with the other three guys.”

#Once he can take some time of to heal properly, Ingraham said he’s looking forward to getting his career back on track.

#“This was the worst season that I’ve had,” he said. “I showed up at nationals and I jumped pretty good there. But I wasn’t pleased with the way I jumped in the other meets. I know that I could have done better.”

#On Friday, starting at 10.15pm EST, the Bahamas will run out of lane eight in the last of the two women’s 4 x 400m relay heats. The first three and the next two fastest times will advance to the final on Sunday.

#Following at 10.40pm EST, the men’s 4 x 400m team will run out of lane six in the first of two qualification heats for the final on Sunday. The same scenario applies as to the women.

#And the men’s 4 x 100m will run at 12.20am EST on Saturday in the first of two heats in lane six to get their spot in the final that will be contested on Saturday at 9.10 am EST.

#The nine-day championship will close on Sunday following the final of the men’s 4 x 400 relay at 8.25am EST.

Donald Thomas competes in the men’s high jump qualification at the World Athletics Championships at the Bird’s Nest stadium in Beijing. (AP)

f Monday, August 31, 2015

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#BEIJING, China — With no team represented in the grand finale in the men’s 4 x 400 metre relay, Team Bahamas closed out competition at the 15th IAAF World Championships with the men’s high jump final at the Bird’s Nest Stadium last night.

#With two of the three men qualified, Donald Thomas soared to a sixth place for the second consecutive championships at 2.29 metres or 7-feet, 6-inches and Barry, back in the championships since he won the bronze medal in 2011 in Daegu, ended up 10th with 2.25m (7-4 1/2).

#The unpredictable showdown concluded with a jump off between the three medallists after they finished in a three-way tie at 2.33m (7-7 3/4).

#Derek Drouin, the Olympic champion and bronze medallist from the 2013 championships, won the gold with 2.34m (7-8) and defending champion Bohdan Bondarenko of the Ukraine and China’s colourful Guowel Zhang got the silver and bronze respectively at 2.33m (7-7 3/4)..

#Thomas, who voiced his disappointment in the men’s 4 x 100 or 4 x 400m relay team-mates in the stands cheering them on, took a gamble when he passed at the fourth height of 2.33m (7-7 3/4) and opted to go up to the fifth height of 7-6 3/4). But he missed all three attempts.

#At the third height of 2.29m (7-6), Thomas got his first knockdown and Barry, who followed with another. However, Thomas cleared the second attempt but Barry missed his second and on his third, his right leg hit the bar as he got eliminated with five others.

#While Thomas remained with a clean slate at the second height of 2.25m (7-4 1/2), Barry moved into the ninth spot when he cleared the mark on his first attempt. The first competitor to be eliminated was Konstadinos Baniotis of Greece at the height.

#Again, Thomas had no problems going over the opening height of 2.20m (7-2 1/2). Barry had to go to his third and final attempt to avoid an early elimination. Only Barry and Baniotis had difficulties clearing the opening height. Baniotis cleared it on his second attempt to sit in 13th place with Barry at the bottom in 14th.

#Ryan Ingraham, the other member of the jumping trio for Team Bahamas, didn’t advance out of the qualifying round on Saturday. Competing with a slight injury he sustained at the Pan American Games where he got a bronze, he bowed out with a best of 2.26m for a two-way tie for 25th place.

#The Bahamas got eliminated from the final of the men’s 1,600m relay for the third consecutive championship. This time, on Saturday, Michael Mathieu had a lane violation on the second leg as the team of Steven Gardiner, Alonzo Russell and Ramon Miller didn’t move.

#The Bahamas finished tied with Trinidad & Tobago and Ukraine for the 20th spot in the medal table with the one silver from Shaunae Miller in the women’s 400m and the bronze from Jeffery Gibson in the men’s 400m hurdles.

#Kenya, surprisingly, held on for the top spot with seven gold, six silver and three bronze for 16 medals. Jamaica surged into second with seven gold, two silver and three bronze for 12 and the United States of America rounded out the top three with six gold, six silver and six bronze for a total of 18 medals.

#And in the placing table, the Bahamas was 19th overall with a second, third and sixth place for 16 points. The USA, however, turned the tables by winning with 214 points, compared to Kenya’s 173 for second and Jamaica with 132 for third.

#The focus now switches to London, England, for the 16th IAAF World Championships August 5-13. Next year, however, the athletes will compete in the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Portland, Oregon, March 17-20 and the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, August 5-21.

Donald Thomas reacts during the men’s high jump final. (AP)

Wednesday, August 17, 2016

Trevor Barry competes in the high jump final. (AP)

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#RIO de Janeiro, Brazil — Donald Thomas and Trevor Barry were nowhere near their best, finishing seventh and 11th overall respectively, as they made their return to the men’s high jump final at the 2016 Olympic Games.

#The duo, who got eliminated in the qualifying rounds in London, England four years ago, came up with their best performances yesterday in the Olympic Stadium with 2.29 metres or 7-feet, 6-inches for Thomas and 2.25m for Barry.

#Canadian Derek Drouin went on to clinch the gold with a season’s best of 2.38m (7-9 3/4), while Mutaz Essa Barshim from Qatar was the silver medallist with 2.36m (7-8 3/4).

#Bohdan Bondarenko of the Ukraine secured the bronze with 2.33m (7-7 3/4) as he edged out three other competitors on fewer knockdowns.

#Thomas, the 32-year-old 2007 IAAF World champion in Osaka, Japan, was clear through the first three heights at 2.20m (7-2 1/2), 2.25m (7-4 1/2) and 2.29m (7-6) before he knocked down all three attempts at 2.33m (7-7 3/4).

#Thomas, coming off his bronze medal at the Pan American Games and sixth place at the World Championships last year, ended up tied with two other competitors.

#Barry, on the other hand, cleared his first two heights at 2.20m (7-2 1/2) and 2.25m (7-4 1/2), but he struggled at 2.29m (7-6) and wasn’t able to go any higher.

#“I was disappointed,” Barry said. “But I give God thanks for allowing me to compete and come out uninjured. But I’m very disappointed.”

#During his jump phases, Barry said he was accelerating to the bar but not the curve going into the pit, he just didn’t get it right.

#“I might shut it down,” said Barry when asked where he goes from here. “I have to talk to my agent and see what’s going on.”

#Barry said the competition was extremely tough as the top three contenders were hoping to make an attempt at the world record of 2.45m set by Cuban Javier Sotomayor in Spain in 1993.

#“I was jumping good up to 2.25. At 2.29, I was pressing it too much and I wasn’t relaxed on the curve,” he said. “All of those are manageable heights. They just didn’t come through today.”

Donald Thomas reacts during the men’s high jump final. (AP)

Wednesday, August 17, 2016

#10.15pm: Shaunae Miller speaks to Brent Stubbs after receiving her gold medal:

stubbobs@gmail. com by Brent Stubbs

#10.10pm: So no medals for Trevor Barry or Donald Thomas in the high jump. Ty’Nia Gaither bows out in the 200m semis and Bianca Stuart doesn’t advance in the long jump.

#But on Wednesday, Pedrya Seymour takes to the track in the women’s 100m hurdles semi-final one at 7.45pm.

#9.05pm: An eighth place finish for Ty’Nia Gaither in the 200m semi-final one – with a time of 23.45.

#9.00pm: Ty’Nia Gaither is now up in lane one in the women’s 200m semi-final.

Bianca Stuart competes in the long jump. (AP)

#8.50pm: Bianca Stuart’s third attempt in the long jump reaches 6.39. Her best jump of 6.45 won’t be enough to qualify. And Donald Thomas hasn’t managed to clear 2.33 on his third attempt in the high jump final. So no medals or qualification from Thomas, Barry or Stuart tonight.

#8.45pm: Donald Thomas has now had two attempts at 2.33 without success. Meanwhile, in the women’s long jump, Bianca Stuart’s second attempt stands at 5.40. Her first leap was 6.45.

#8.40pm: Donald Thomas doesn’t manage to clear 2.33 on his first attempt.

#8.25pm: Donald Thomas has cleared 2.29 – but Trevor Barry hasn’t managed to in three attempts. And in the women’s long jump qualifying group A – Bianca Stuart has jumped 6.45 and is currently sitting seventh in the group.

#7.55pm: Both high jumpers have now cleared 2.25.

#7.45pm: Donald Thomas has also cleared 2.20 in the men’s high jump final – so far, so good for Team Bahamas tonight.

#7.38pm: The men’s high jump final is now underway with two members of Team Bahamas – Trevor Barry and Donald Thomas – taking part. Trevor Barry has cleared 2.20 at his first attempt.

#7.28pm: The 400m champion is all smiles as the Bahamian national anthem plays in the Olympic stadium.

Gold medalist Shaunae Miller, centre, silver medalist Allyson Felix of the USA, left, and bronze medalist Shericka Jackson of Jamaica hold their 400m medals in Rio. (AP)

#7.25pm: Shaunae Miller is now on the podium and has received her gold medal from fellow Bahamian golden girl Pauline Davis-Thompson.

From left, Bahamas’ Shavez Hart, Jamaica’s Yohan Blake, United States’ Ameer Webb, and South Africa’s Anaso Jobodwana compete in a men’s 200-metre heat. (AP)

#3.10pm: The full story of Pedrya Seymour’s 100m hurdles qualification is now online HERE.

#And Brent Stubbs speaks to the men’s 200m competitors HERE.

#12.05pm: After last night’s triumph in the 400m final – Shaunae Miller spoke to The Tribune’s Brent Stubbs:

Shaunae Miller speaks to Brent Stubbs by Tribune242

#11.15am: Teray Smith finishes sixth in heat four with 20.66.

#11.00am: Not a great start for Team Bahamas in the men’s 200m heats. Demetrius Pinder was disqualified in heat one and Shavez Hart finished seventh in heat two with a time of 20.74. Teray Smith still to run.

#10.30am: Pedrya Seymour has qualified for the women’s 100m hurdles semifinal. She finished third in heat two with a time of 12.85 – behind the USA’s Nia Ali (12.76) and Canada’s Phylicia George (12.76).

#9.25am: If you’ve managed to catch your breath after all of last night’s drama, here is the schedule for Team Bahamas at the Olympic Games today:

#10:05 am EST – Pedrya Seymour, women’s 100m hurdles heats.

#10:50 am EST – Shavez Hart, Demetrius Pinder and Teray Smith, men’s 200m heats.

#7:30 pm EST – Trevor and Donald Thomas at No.10 and No.13 respectively in the men’s high jump final.

#8:05 pm EST – Bianca Stuart – Women’s long jump qualifying.

#9 pm – Ty’Nia Gaither, women’s 200m semi-final.

Shaunae Miller on the ground after winning the 400m final. (AP)

#And HERE, gold medal winner Shaunae Miller reflects on that thrilling 400m final.

Tynia Gaither (left) finishes third to qualify for the 200m semifinals. (AP)

Monday, August 15, 2016

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#RIO de Janeiro, Brazil: Bahamian double sprint national champion Ty’Nia Gaither shook off her disappointment in the 100 metre preliminaries on the opening day of athletics at the 2016 Olympic Games to make it to the semi-final of the 200m on Monday at the Olympic Stadium,

#Gaither posted a time of 22.90 seconds for a third place finish in the first of nine heats to advance. She had the fifth of the six fastest times after the two automatic qualification spots in each heat.

#“That race definitely felt a lot better. I was definitely more comfortable with that. I was more in my zone and my mind was in a much better place,” she told The Tribune as she watched as Netherlands’ Dafne Schippers take the tape in the fifth fastest time of 22.51.

#As for the 100m, where she ran 11.58 for fifth in her heat and 39th overall, Gaither said everything just happened so fast and she wasn’t as relaxed and comfortable in the half-lap race. She will now prepare for the semi-final on Tuesday at 9pm when she will run out of lane one in the first of three heats. She will need to finish as one of the top two finishers or have one of the next two fastest times to get into Wednesday’s final.

#Two other Bahamians were joining to join Gaither in her Olympic debut, but Anthonique Strachan and Sheniqua ‘Q’ Ferguson didn’t make it.

#Strachan, back in action since having surgery in November, was also third in her heat in a season’s best of 2.96, just missing the cut of 24 with 26th position overall. She was one spot ahead of Jamaican former Olympic champion Veronica Campbell-Brown, who did 22.97 for third in her heat as well and 27th overall. Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare was the winner of the heat in 22.71.

#“It’s good. Lane one was just a dead lane, but I can’t complain because you have other competitors running in it,” Strachan lamented. “But it feels good to get a season’s best.”

#Ferguson, on the other hand, was eighth in her heat in 23.62 as she ended up 58 out of a field of 72 competitors. Ferguson was visibly upset over the media suggestion in another publication that she should not be allowed to compete if Shaunae Miller wanted to pursue a possible 200/400 double. Ivet Lalova-Collio of Bulgaria won the heat in 22.61.

#Ferguson declined to speak to the media.