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Friday, July 3, 2009

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Bahamian men moving up the IAAF charts By KELSIE JOHNSON ~ NG Sports Reporter ~ kelsie@nasguard.com: Elite Bahamian male track and field athletes have soared up the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) top performance list, turning in impressive times, distances and heights over the past few weeks, on the European circuit. The recently released standings have three Bahamian quarter-milers sitting high in the men's 400 meters (m) - Freeport natives Latoy Williams and Andrae Williams, and national record holder Chris Brown who hails from the island of Eleuthera. Also listed are Ramon Miller, Michael Matthieu and Andretti Bain. Latoy Williams, a member of South Plains College, popped on the scene in May with a season's best time of 44.73 seconds, which was ran in Hutchinson, Kansas. His time leads all Bahamians, and is the fourth leading time in the world this year. Following Latoy Williams is Andrae Williams. Andrae has the 12th fastest time, 44.98 seconds. His next fastest time of 45.04 seconds is also one of the fastest times in the world this year. Brown is also in the midst with a season's best time of 45.03 seconds, Miller's best time is 45.43 seconds, the time of 45.08 seconds has Matthieu listed and Bain has a season's best time of 46.12 seconds. National record holder in the men's 100m, Derrick Atkins, has a season's best time of 10.17 seconds which is among the top 30 best times in the world this year. Over in the 200m, Atkins has a season's best time of 20.35 seconds. Shamar Sands continues to lower the national record in the men's 110m high hurdles, which is propelling his name up the IAAF top performance list. So far this season, Sands has clocked 13.38 seconds, the latest accomplishment seen on Thursday in Ostrava, Czech Republic. Making a comeback after a rocky 2008 season is Donald Thomas, former world champion in the high jump. Thomas has cleared 2.30m, the 10th best clearing in the world this year. Triple jumper Leevan Sands has a season's best jump of 16.91m. All of the above named athletes are expected to compete in the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA) Senior National Championships next weekend. Saturday, June 20, 2009