Several surprise victories came from athletes competing at the 2006 Bahamas Electricity Corporation’s 2006 National Track and Field Championships at the Thomas A. Robinson Stadium over the weekend.
The biggest showdown of the championships was in the Men’s 200 Metres. The world’s number two ranked quarter-miler, Eleutheran native Chris Brown, clearly beat the defending national champion, Dominic Demeritte, for the gold clocking 20.56 seconds.
Demeritte timed 20.89 seconds for the silver, just edging out Dennis Darling, (another quarter-mile specialist) who got the bronze in a time of 20.90 seconds.
After the race Brown said that he will not consider changing his specialty to the 200 Metres and that he was just using it as a part of his training.
Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie was crowned the new Women’s 200 Metres champion. Tonique Williams-Darling, the defending champion did not compete.
Ferguson-McKenzie won the 200 Metres in a time of 22.4 seconds, ahead of Christine Amertil who clocked 22.7 seconds. Sheniqua Ferguson timed 23.7 seconds for the bronze.
In addition, Ferguson-McKenzie won the 100 Metres dash in time of 11.06 seconds, Timicka Clarke was second in 11.45 seconds and Savatheda Fynes was third in 11.52 seconds. The 2005 champion is Chandra Sturrup, who did not make an appearance.
Ferguson-McKenzie said that she was in the best shape of her career, was satisfied with the competition from Amertil and was grateful for the opportunity to compete at home.
Derek Atkins, the defending champ, blew away the field in the Men’s100 Metres dash, winning the gold in a time of 10.03. Taking the silver was Jamial Rolle in a time of 10.31 and Rodney Green got the bronze in a time of 10.38.
Another exciting battle was in the Men’s 400 Metres where Grand Bahamas’ Michael Mathieu beat out favorites Andretti Bain and Avard Moncur. Mathieu clocked 46.59 for the gold, edging Bain who timed 46.60 and Moncur who got the bronze in a time of 47.04.
Mathieu told The Bahama Journal after the race that, "Andretti and Avard gave me the most competition. From here I will return to Grand Bahama and continue training".
The defending Men’s 400 Metres champion, Andre Williams, did not compete because he is nursing an injury according to The Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ officials.
Other athletes who sent letters stating their non-participation at the nationals because they were not in top condition included, Williams-Darling, Aaron Cleare and Sturrup.
Sasha Rolle is the new Women’s 400 Metres champion, succeeding Amertil who did not run in the event. Rolle won in a time of 54.32, Shakeitha Henfield got the silver in a time of 54.72 and Julie Nixon got the bronze clocking 1:02.09.
In the 800 Metres, Santisha Martin won in a time of 2:21.74 while Ramona Nicolls placed second in a time of 2:23.34.
In the Women’s 1500 Metres, Nicolls won in a time of 4:57.5 and Martin was second in a time of 5:23.6.
In the Men’s 800 Metres, Dwayne Ferguson won in a time of 1:56.31, Kenneth Wallace-Whitfield was second in a time of 1:56.90 and Lesley Dorceval was third in a time of 2:05.80.
In the Men’s 1500 Metres, Oneil Williams won in a time of 3:56.59 and Dorceval was second in a time of 4:29.09.
In the Women’s 100 Metre Hurdles, Tiavanni Thompson won in a time of 13.44, Leneice Rolle was second in a time of 14.66 and Krystal Bodie was third in a time of 14.81.
In the Men’s 110 Metres Hurdles, Christopher Bethel won in a time of 14.60, Tasman Evans was second in a time of 15.43 and Kenton Taylor was third in a time of 15.81.
Winning the 400 Metres Hurdles was Douglas Lynes in a time of 51.30, Carlyle Thompson was second in a time of 53.66 and Kayuse Burrows was third in 54.09.
Placing first in the Women’s 400 Metres Hurdles was Michelle Cumberbatch in a time of 1:05.39, Bodie was second in a time of 1:06.40 and Tess Mullings was third in a time of 1:07.21.
While many defending champions fell in the short distance track events, many athletes defended their titles in the field events.
In the Women’s Javelin Throw, Laverne Eve defended her title with a toss of 57.86 metres, Tracy Morrison was second with a throw of 45.51 metres and Tina Sterling was third with a throw of 15.28 metres.
Jackie Edwards defended her title in the Long Jump. She leaped 6.45 metres for first, Donnavette Martin was second with a jump of 5.49 metres and Eunae Wright was third with a leap of 5.33 metres.
Trevor Barry defended his title in the High Jump with a leap of 2.16 metres over Donald Thomas who finished with a height of 2.14 metres and James Rolle was third with a leap of 2.08 metres.
Osbourne Moxey defended his title in the Long Jump with a leap of 8.07 metres, Barry was second at 7.70 metres and Adrian Griffith was third with a jump of 7.59 metres.
Antonio Saunders is the new Triple Jump champion with a leap of 15.83 metres, Ahmad Rolle placed second with a leap of 15.14 metres and Lamar Delaney was third with a distance of 14.96 metres. Leevan "Superman" Sands is the defending champion but could not compete because of a suspension.
Winning the Women’s Shot Putt was Aymara Albury with a toss of 16.27 metres, Heneka Rolle was second with a throw of 13.42 metres and Tracy Morrison was third with a toss of 12.73 metres.
The Men’s Shot Putt title went to Mark Sterling with a toss of 9.65 metres. He was the only competitor.
Winning the Women’s discuss throw was Gabrielle Nixon with a toss of 36.30 metres while Deandra Rolle threw 32.16 for second.
Delron Inniss won the Men’s discuss throw with a toss of 36.60 Metres, Kenny Moxey was second with a throw of 34.78 and Sterling was third with a throw of 25.75 metres.
Raymond Farrington won the Men’s Javelin throw with a distance of 61.03 metres, Henry Butler was second with a throw of 52.87 metres and Livingston Brown was third with a throw of 51.07 metres.
Winning the Men’s Pole Vault was Kenny Moxey with a height of 4.27 metres, Jamahl Strachan was second with a height of 3.81 metres and Elvardo Humes was third with a height of 2.74 metres.