SPORTS SECTION E
ALONZO RUSSELL: WE COULD REALLY HAVE USED GARDINER IN 4X400
By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net ALTHOUGH they went out and gave it their best shot, Grand Bahamian quarter-miler Alonzo Russell said the Bahamas team could really have used silver medalist Stevie Gardiner in the heats of the men’s 4 x 400 metre relay at the 16th IAAF World Championships. Following the team’s dismal showing in London, England on Saturday where they finished seventh in their heat and 11th overall, fingers have been pointed at Gardiner, who stated that after three grueling rounds of the 400m, he was only prepared to run in the final. But Russell claimed on their arrival in London the week leading up to the opening of the championships, Gardiner made it crystal clear to them that he wasn’t prepared to run with them at all. “I thought it was selfish because within the first couple of days when we arrived in London, we (Russell, Ojay Ferguson, Kendrick Thompson and Ramon Miller) were informed by him (Gardiner) directly that he did not have any plans to run with the relay team,” Russell said. “He said that as soon as the 400m is done, that will be it for him. I made sure I let the coaches (Dianne Woodside-Johnson and Rupert Gardiner) know the very moment it was said so that there would be no surprises at the end.” Russell said the coaches said not to worry bout it because they would handle it. Without Gardiner, Russell led the team of Mathieu, Ferguson and Miller to a seventh finish in their season’s best of three minutes and 03.02 seconds. That was 11th overall, leaving the Bahamas without one of the eight lanes in the final on the closing night of the championship Trinidad & Tobago went on to stun the United States of American for the gold. Great Britain picked up the bronze medal. “Being honest, I think we would have won the heat and qualified for the finals if he ran,” Russell said. “Looking at the numbers, Steve most likely would have shaved two seconds of the total time since his time of 43.89 is far beyond Michael’s season best of 45.9, Ramon’s 46.1, Ojay’s 46.4 and my own 45.5,” Russell projected. “Last year at the Olympics, we won the bronze medal with individual season’s best times of 45.25 for myself, Chris Brown’s 45.5, Michael’s 45.4 and Steven’s 44.4.” That was then and this is now. Another year, a different team. “We remained positive about it and just went in the race with the hopes of advancing to the final,” Russell said. “I assured the guys that I will pop off and put them in a good place to set the tone.” SEE PAGE E3
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16, 2017
WILLIAMS HEADS TO KENYA FOR HALF MARATHON TRAINING E3
Gaither reflects on ‘amazing’ Worlds By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net WHEN she looks back at her performance at the 16th International Amateur Athletic Federation’s 16th World Championships, the one word that comes to mind of Grand Bahamian sprinter Ty’Nia Gaither is “amazing”. For a first time competitor, she surprised herself and made Bahamas history when she joined Shaunae Miller-Uibo as the first two Bahamian females to reach the final of the 200 metres. While Miller-Uibo went on to become the bronze medalist in a time of 22.15 seconds behind Dutchwoman Dafne Scheppers, who successfully defended her title in 22.05 and Ivory Coast’s Marie-Josee Ta Lou, who posted a national record of 22.08, Gaither finished eighth in 23.02. But for Gaither, it wasn’t so much the time or the position, but the fact that she made her breakthrough in her rookie season on the professional circuit after graduating from the University of Southern California a year ago. “I could do nothing but smile and be grateful because this was my first one, my first professional season, I got a new coach, still transitioning, trying to get used to a programme and I was able to do that,” she reflected. “I’m very satisfied.” The 24-year-old Grand Bahamian, sponsored on the international scene by Addidas, is being trained now by Darrel Wilson in Austin, Texas. She said she is in the right place at the right time. And having experienced what she did at the championships, running through the rounds, Gaither admitted that she gained a lot of mental strength. “I know that I belong now,” she said. “I feel like that was what I
“I could do nothing but smile and be grateful because this was my first one, my first professional season, I got a new coach, still transitioning, trying to get used to a programme and I was able to do that. I’m very satisfied.” Ty-Nia Gaither needed the most, just to know that I belong out there competing against the best.” Gaither said she’s looking to possibly compete in one or two more meets before she closes the account on her impressive season. “I’m not sure, yet. hopefully something will happen,” she stated. “I’m going to sit down and have a talk with my agent. Hopefully something will happen. I don’t know just yet. But whatever comes through, I know I will be prepared for it.” So far, Gaither said she would have acknowledge that it’s been an “up and down” struggle for her to transition from college to the pro ranks. “I’m a very independent person, so it’s been good to finally do some things on my own. I’m comfortable with that,” she declared. “But at the same time, it’s been very rough physically just trying to get back into top shape that I was in my college season. So I have to say it’s been ups and downs.” If there’s any lesson that Gaither felt she learnt during the season and even at the championships, it’s the fact that it’s all on her to accomplish her goals. SEE PAGE E6
SPRINTER Ty’Nia Gaither in action at the World Championships. PHOTO: Kermit Taylor/Bahamas Athletics
BAHAMAS LOSES OPENER IN U18 CENTROBASKET By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net TEAM Bahamas struggled to score for much of the second and third quarters and failed to keep pace as they lost their opening game of the FIBA U18 Centrobasket Championship for Women. They suffered a 53-39 loss to Costa Rica as the eight team tournament tipped off yesterday in Aguada, Puerto Rico. Tanea Bowleg led the Bahamas with seven points, while Terell Cox added six and Briontae Riley finished with five points and eight rebounds. Valeria Gonzalez led Costa Rica with 12 points while Fiorella Mendez and SEE PAGE E2
THE Bahamas in action against Costa Rica in their opening match of the FIBA U18 Centrobasket Championship for Women.