BARCELONA, Spain, CMC – Sprint queen Anthonique Strachan made history for the Bahamas when she set a new meet record in the 200 metres to complete the much-vaunted sprint double at the World Junior Championships here Friday night.
The 18-year-old, who won the 100 metres on Wednesday night, stormed to victory in 22.53 seconds – also a new personal best and world-leading junior time.
In the process, she eclipsed American Shalonda Solomon’s eight year old mark of 22.82, becoming the first woman in 12 years to do the double at the World Junior Championships.
She was level over the first the first 50 metres but burst through the turn to take the lead and was unchallenged over the last 60 metres.
“That never happened before in the history of my country. I’ll come back with two gold medals in the 100 metres and the 200 metres,” she said afterward.
“That will change my life and I can’t imagine the atmosphere when I’ll be back home.”
Americans Olivia Ekpone (23.15) and Dezerea Bryant (23.15) were second and third respectively, while Jamaican Shericka Jackson finished last in 23.53.
Strachan adds the double to those at the last two CARIFTA Games – the Caribbean’s premier junior track and field meet.
She also won the 200 metres at last year’s Pan Am Junior Championship in Florida.
Her performance overshadowed that of Delano Williams who swept the men’s 200 metres for the Turks and Caicos Islands, to ensure a good night for the Caribbean at the Montjuïc Olympic Stadium.
He clocked 20.48 seconds to narrowly get home ahead of Americans Aaron Ernest (20.53) and Tyreek Hill (20.54).
“Despite my disappointing start, I said to myself ‘you can’ and I did my best in the last 50 metres. I cannot explain how happy I am,” Williams beamed.
The race was not without drama, however, as Jamaican Julian Forte seemed to have the race wrapped up in the stretch after carving out a healthy lead.
However, he pulled up injured allowing Williams to take the lead and cross the line first.
Forte finished last in 21 seconds.
There was more gold for the Caribbean as Trinidadian Keshorn Walcott won the men’s javelin with a throw of 78.64 metres.
Argentina’s Brian Toledo was second with 77.09 while Morné Moolman of South Africa (76.29) took bronze.
Meanwhile, Guyanese Kadecia Baird copped silver in the women’s 400 metres, behind eventual winner American Ashley Spencer who clocked a new meet record 50.50 seconds.
Baird edged out American Erika Rucker (51.10) as she stopped the clock at a personal best 51.04 seconds.
“I really didn’t expect a medal in Barcelona. I broke finally my personal best over one second so it’s awesome,” Baird said.
“However, I could have run better if I had been more aggressive in the start.”
