The 26-year-old Gardiner continued to build momentum from a series of impressive indoor performances earlier this season, where he competed in the 200m. On Saturday, the Bahamian beat back a challenge from the USA’s Vernon Norwood, who ran 44.59 for second place. The time was the fourth-fastest of Norwood's career.
Great Britain’s Matthew Hudson-Smith finished third in 44.61 seconds and the USA’s Tyler Terry was fourth in 45.00. The time was Gardiner’s fastest ever 400m season opener and seems to set him in good stead to defend his world title at the Eugene 2022 World Championships later this summer. Gardiner’s time bettered the earlier mark of 44.28 seconds, set by the USA’s Michael Cherry last weekend.
Elsewhere, Jamaica’s LSU hurdles star Damion Thomas finished third in the men’s 110 metres hurdles. Thomas’ time of 13.79 saw him finish just behind Canada’s Joey Daniels who clocked 13.78 for second, while the event was won by LSU’s Eric Edwards Jr who took top spot in a time of 13.34.
Bahamas track star Devynne Charlton, the reigning World Indoor 60m hurdles champion and world record holder, has announced the launch of the Devynne Charlton Barrier Breakers Foundation. Charlton shared the news on Instagram on Thursday, December 19, 2024, marking a significant step in her efforts to give back to her community and inspire the next generation of athletes.
The next edition of the championships is due to be in 2024, and once again the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium has been earmarked as the venue for the team championship.
The Bahamas hosted the first three editions of the tournament, which took place between 2014-2017. The event them moved to Yokohoma, Japan in 2019 and then Chorzow, Poland last year.
With the team’s track record of successfully hosting previous events, President of the International Association of Athletics Federations Sebastian Coe is confident the country will be able to deliver another exciting event.
“We have had three wonderful editions of the World Athletics Relays in Nassau, which established this event on the global calendar, so we know we are in safe hands for what will be an important Olympic qualifier for all our relay events,” Coe said.
“We are confident that The Bahamas will offer the best conditions for the athletes and a brilliant atmosphere for both athletes and fans as we mark a key milestone on the road to the Paris Olympic Games.”
The 2024 World Athletics Relays will serve as the main qualifier for teams participating in the men’s and women’s 4 x 100 and 4 x 400 and mixed 4 x 400m metre relays for the 2024 Olympics in Paris, France.
With the 52nd edition of the CARIFTA Games set to begin on Saturday at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, the Bahamas’ 78-member team is brimming with confidence as they set their sights on ending Jamaica’s decades-long dominance at the regional junior athletics championships.
