The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

Sooner or later, you just knew Shaunae Miller would have a break-out performance in the women's 400m. It came in the Fritz Grant Track and Field Invitational Saturday as the reigning IAAF World Youth and Junior Championships double champion clocked an impressive personal best of 51.44 seconds.

The time surpassed the automatic A qualifying time of 51.55 for the 2012 Olympic Games in London, England, and it placed her in the top 20 on the IAAF world list.

The St Augustine's College senior, who opened her season with a 52.83, has already ran a top 10 ranking of 22.70 in the 200 and 11.41 (100m) that has also placed her on the chart, the only athlete to be registered in all three events.

Miller led a field of competitors at the meet that saw Ryan Ingraham post an Olympic B cut in the men's high jump, while quarter-miler Andretti Bain made a return to the men's 400 after sitting out the past year with a series of injuries.

"First of all, I want to thank God for my performance," Miller said. "It was a pretty good race. I just went out there and did what my coach told me to do. The wind and the sun was a bad combination today, so I was happy that I came out of it very strong. It was not the best race, but I got my PR (personal best). I didn't think it would have been that fast. I guess the speed work early this season has paid off."

Miller, who is expected to graduate from SAC next month before she enrolls at the University of Georgia in August, said her focus right now is on the World Junior Championships in Barcelona, Spain, in July where she intends to go to defend her title and then concentrate on the Olympics.

Also preparing for the World Juniors is Ryan Ingraham, who came close to surpassing the A standard in the men's high jump. He cleared 2.28m or 7-feet, 5 1/4-inches without any competition to match the B standard. The A standard is 2.31m (7-7), which has already been done by both Donald Thomas and Trevor Barry.

"It was all right. On my second attempt, I brushed it a bit and brought it (bar) down so I had to make it on my last attempt," he said. "The other jumps were all on my first attempt until I reached 2.26. It was all right. I just want to thank God and my coach (James Rolle) for allowing me to stay focus this far. I'm still young so there's still a lot ahead of me to accomplish."

Ingraham, 18, said he's watching his role models - Barry and Thomas (who both cleared 2.27m (7-5 1/4 ) at the Samsung Diamond League in Doha last week for fifth place and is eager for the showdown next month at the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations National Open Track and Field Championships.

"I will try to give them the best competition that they have ever been in," he said. "I will try to push them and let them push me to even jump higher. I think it's just a matter of time before I do the A standard. My ankle is a little sore but once I work on that, everything should be okay for me."

Twin brothers Latario and Lathone Collie-Minns are also gearing up for a successful trip to Barcelona. Lathone Collie-Minns made his claim when he won the men's triple jump with a lifetime best leap of 16.01m (52-6 1/2) which was shy of the Olympic B cut of 16.85m (55-3 1/2). His nearest rival was Michael Burns with a leap of 14.03m (46-0 1/2).

"My performance today was great. This is my personal best and to do it at the beginning of the year showed that I'm beginning to get my rhythm back," said Lathone, who is making his way back from injury as he trails his brother, Latario Collie-Minns, who has already done 16.47 (54-0 1/2) but is now recuperating from a slight injury.

"I did a good job today. I got off to a slow start this year but it's getting better. I hope to get in some better jumps and hopefully me and my brother can qualify for the Olympics. We know that it will be a lot of competition going up against Leevan but we both hope to be ready for the challenge."

Leevan 'Superman' Sands has already set the pace, having done the A cut of 17.20m (56-5 1/4) from last year. He has a season's best so far of 16.90m (55-5 1/2).

Perhaps the most anticipated event to watch at the BAAA Nationals will be the men's 400m. After sustaining a hamstring injury last year at this same meet that prevented him from further competition, Andretti Bain made his return by repeating as the champion in a time of 47.32, just ahead of Jamal Moss, who ran 47.71.

For Bain, he was just delighted to be back on the track. "It was really windy but I thought I ran a pretty good race around the track," he said. "I felt good. I was just glad to just get around the track. With all of the injuries that I've been having for the last three years, so far this year I was able to stay healthy. Once I can do that, I perfectly happy with that. But I know Open Nationals is where it will count. My coach just keeps telling me to be patient. Be patient it will come."

Bain, who recently wed volleyball player Sherice Rolle-Bain, said he's back with his collegiate coach at Oral Roberts University which he hopes to make a difference in the dismal experience he encountered over the past few seasons since he graduated.

The meet saw a number of other outstanding performances with multiple victories coming from Lanique Thompson in the girls under-7 80 and 150m, Tumaini Skinner in the boys under-7 80 and 150m, D'Arjha Davis in the under-9 girls 80 and 150m, Otto Laing in the under-9 boys 80 and 150m, Jaida Knowles in the under-11 girls 100 and 200m, Kayneusha Carter in the girls under-13 100 and 200m, Dreshanae Rolle in the girls under-15 200 and 400m, Nitchev Casseus in the boys under-15 200 and 400m, Carmeisha Cox in the under-18 girls 100 and 200m, Brashae Woods in the under-18 girls shot put and discus, LaQuan Nairn in the boys under-18 long and high jumps, Antillio Bastian in the open men's 100 and 200m, James Audley Carey in the open men's 800 and 1,500m, Avery Thompson in the men's 110 and 400 hurdles and Deangelo Nottage in the open men's shot put and discus.

Meet director and patron Fritz Grant said the performances were all creditable even though Shaunae Miller and Ryan Ingraham stood tall. He said that the athletes responded very well to the change in the age divisions with the under-18 and open being instituted for the first time as mandated by the IAAF.

Grant also thanked ASA H Pritchard, the producers of Florida's Nature, the sponsors for the meet. He also lauded his Ambassadors track club family, the BAAA, the Bahamas Association of Certified Officials (BACO), the athletes, parents and spectators for making it a success.