By KELSIE JOHNSON, NG Sports Reporter, kelsie@nasguard.com

In just his third race of the season, Bahamian national record holder in the men's 100 meters (m), Derrick Atkins, posted the fifth fastest time in the world this year.

Atkins ran 10.07 seconds, on Saturday, at the Brutus Hamilton Invitational, held at the University of California, Berkeley. This was the first 100m dash for Atkins for 2008, and the second 200m. In the 200m, at the same meet, he clocked 20.44 seconds for second place behind Chris Berrian, who crossed the finish line in 20.37 seconds.

The time has sky-rocketed Atkins up the charts, having already posted one of the top 20 times in the world in the event with his 20.66 seconds performance earlier this month. The time of 20.44 seconds has placed Atkins in the top five in the world.

At the Penn Relays, The Bahamas fielded three teams, in hopes of securing fast times which will make them eligible for the Beijing Olympic Games. The women's team, which consisted of Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie, Chandra Sturrup, Timicka Clarke and Jackie Edwards clocked 44.52 seconds for a fifth place finish behind the United States Red and Blue teams, who finished in times of 42.57 seconds and 42.64 seconds respectively. Also competing in the race was Jamaica, who

recorded 43.31 seconds.

The time ran by the Bahamian quartet is the second fastest time posted by The Bahamas this year though. The 4x100m team at the Carifta Track and Field Championships posted the fastest time of 44.36 seconds.

The men's 4x100m team was not that successful at the meet - they did not finish the race. The men's 4x400m team, who have already posted an impressive

time on the year, were without Chris Brown, Avard Moncur and Nathaniel McKinney. The weekend team comprised of Andrae Williams, Douglas Lynes-Bell, Michael Matthieu and Jamial Rolle. They recorded a time of 3:05.64 for a fourth place finish behind the United States Blue and Red teams, who posted times of 2:59.71, and 3:01.12 respectively. Third place was claimed by Jamaica in 3:02.00.

In an earlier interview with The Nassau Guardian, President of the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA) Mike Sands, revealed that the main focus this past weekend was to field teams with the available personnel. Sands also said that based on prior commitments, persons like Atkins and others were not available to compete in the Penn Relays, but that the country will have more opportunities in posting one of the top 16 times, in the world, to ensure their participation in the relays at the Beijing Games.

Also competing at the Penn Relays were Jack Hayward High School, finishing sixth in the 4x100m relay for high school boys in a time of 41.61 seconds. In the 4x400m, the school posted a time of 3:19.94 for seventh overall.