While under-20 (U20) athletes were trying to qualify for junior international meets this summer, senior athletes were trying to confirm spots on the Commonwealth Games and Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games teams.
One of the biggest upsets of the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA) Combined Junior and Senior National Track and Field Championships, and Invitational, over the weekend, came in the open women 100 meters (m) hurdles, in which Denisha Cartwright took the national title away from Devynne Charlton.
The latter is the reigning three-time world champion in the women’s 60m hurdles indoors, and world record holder, but was pale in comparison to Cartwright in the 100m hurdles on Friday.
Cartwright, 26, who was a collegiate standout at Minnesota State University at Mankato, and has represented The Bahamas at the Olympics and the world championships, won the women’s 100m hurdles on Friday, in a season’s best time of 12.97 seconds. Charlton settled for second in 13.21 seconds.
“It feels great. I had some time off with training, about a month, so to come home and perform like this is a good feeling,” said Cartwright. “I’m just getting everything in order and trying to figure out what I need to do. I just came out here to execute and I feel like I was able to do that. I just want to stay healthy for the rest of the season, continue working on what I need to work on and just trust God. Whatever door he opens up for me, I’ll walk through.”
Charlton said it was a bit disappointing losing her national title, but she’s more focussed on the Commonwealth Games and the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championships later this year.
“Every time I step on the track, there is always the intention to give it my best. To relinquish my title is a little disappointing, but at the same time, every meet is a stepping stone to the big one at the end of the season. This is just preparation to get me there,” said Charlton.
The now 30-year-old Charlton has already broken the national record twice, and had a trio of top three performances at Diamond League meets, this year.
As for Cartwright, Friday’s performance just might have been her most impressive of the season. She came back in the 200m on Sunday, and finished second in 24.29 seconds. University of Florida junior athlete Quincy Penn won in 23.53 seconds.
In the open men’s 110m hurdles, Oscar Smith has been The Bahamas’ top athlete this year.
The Lousiana Tech University senior won that event on Friday in 13.47 seconds — his second-fastest time of the season. Liberty University freshman Tahj Brown finished second in 13.61 seconds.
“I feel like I had a great first half of the race, and then tried to clean it up a bit at the end,” said Smith. “I clipped about two or three hurdles but I’m happy. I came out here and was able to execute when I needed to, so I’m pleased. I just want to keep improving and be a better athlete. To be this healthy this late in the season, and run this well, I’m pleased. It means a lot to me. I just have to keep working, keep building and stay healthy.”
In the open men’s 100m, University of Minnesota junior athlete Zion Campbell won in 10.20 seconds after running a personal best time of 10.11 seconds in the heats.
The 21-year-old rising star is looking forward to representing The Bahamas this summer.
“It feels great to come home and be the national champion, and to be running this well going into the summer is a good feeling and blessing,” said Campbell. “I’m optimistic, and I’m looking forward for what else is to come. I feel like I just have to stay healthy. I wanted to come home and perform well and I feel like I was able to do that. The goal for the rest of the season is just to stay healthy and perform well.”
Campbell competed in the nationals for the first time in three years, and certainly put on a show. Adam Musgrove was second in 10.37 seconds, and Samalie Farrington finished third in 10.39 seconds.
World and Olympic Champion Steven Gardiner competed in the heats of the men’s 200m, but was a no-show for the final. Gardiner ran 21.82 seconds in the heats.
Ian Kerr won in the final in 21.23 seconds. Adam Musgrove was second in 21.43 seconds.
A trio of Bahamian collegians took part in a very competitive women’s 400m.
Javonya Valcourt, a senior for the University of Tennessee, won in 51.01 seconds. Lacarthea Cooper, a senior for Texas A&M University, finished second in 51.18 seconds. Collinique Farrington, a senior for Texas Tech University, crossed the finish line in third in 51.29 seconds.
Andrew Styles won the open men’s 400m in 46.79 seconds. Quinton Ellis finished second in 46.85 seconds, and Kenzie Knowles was third in 48.05 seconds.
Jalen Cadet won the open men’s long jump with a leap of 7.86m (25’ 9-1/2”), defeating reigning Commonwealth Games champion LaQuan Nairn, who finished second with a leap of 7.53m (24’ 8-1/2”). Jonathan Rodgers finished third with a leap of 7.52m (24’ 8-1/4”).
In other results, Camille Rutherford won the open women’s 100m in 11.34 seconds, Charisma Taylor captured the open women’s 400m hurdles in 59.08 seconds, Dennis Williamson took the men’s version of that race in 51.52 seconds, Anthaya Charlton won the women’s long jump with a leap of 6.23m (20’ 5-1/4”), national record holder Keyshawn Strachan had a huge throw of 80.31m (263’ 6”) to win the men’s javelin, national record holder Serena Brown won the women’s discus with a throw of 55.72m (182’ 10”), Antone Smith leapt 15.84m (51’ 11-3/4”) to win the men’s triple jump, Tarajh Hudson won the men’s discus with a throw of 53.52m (175’ 7”), and Brenden Vanderpool and Tyler Cash both cleared 4.85m (15’ 11”) to share the victory in the open men’s pole vault competition.
More results could be found on the website tekresults.net.
