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Monday, June 29, 2009

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All that glitters is Gold! By KELSIE JOHNSON ~ NG Sports Reporter ~ kelsie@nasguard.com: Almost a decade of doping by others, has paid off for six Bahamian athletes. Due to the doping admissions by Americans Marion Jones and Antonio Pettigrew, The Bahamas can now celebrate more World Championships gold medals in the international track and field arena. As a result, it was a bittersweet moment for Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie and the members of the Bahamian men's 4x400 meters (m) team from the 2001 International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF) World Championships, on Saturday, as they were finally awarded with those gold medals. The seven-and-half year wait was finally over for the six athletes when they got those medals on Saturday night at the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA) National Championships. A huge crowd remained on hand to witness history in the making, with Ferguson-McKenzie along with the team inclusive of Chris 'The Fireman' Brown, Carl Oliver, Tim Munnings, Avard Moncur and Troy McIntosh as the beneficiaries. This was the first time that medals from an international meet on foreign soil were presented in The Bahamas. National record holder in the women's 200m, Ferguson-McKenzie, was lost for words after she was presented with the medal, but marked the moment as priceless, nonetheless. She said: "I am a little lost for words and normally I am never that, but I am just so really thankful for it because it has been seven plus years and I think throughout the whole process I was a little disappointed when I found out I got the gold seven years later, but better late than never. I am thankful to the IAAF and to the BAAA, and of course, to the government for putting in the hard work. To be able to be presented here at home and get the chance to hear my national anthem, I think that is priceless. I am so thankful, I am a gold medalist in the 200m at the World Championships. For the kids out there I would like to say stay encouraged because you never know what is going to happen. Never quit, never give up and never give in, I am so thankful," she added joyously. Ferguson-McKenzie moved into the top spot after Jones were disqualified, for her role in performance-enhancing drugs. The winning time is now 22.52 seconds, followed by 22.85 seconds ran by American Latasha Jenkins and 22.88 seconds by Cydonie Mothersill from the Cayman Islands. At the weekend meet, Ferguson-McKenzie ran 22.83 seconds for the win over Sheniqua Ferguson and Jernise Saunders who ran 23.48 seconds and 24.45 seconds respectively. On hand for the presentation for the men's gold medals were Brown, McIntosh, Munnings and Moncur. Oliver's sister collected his medal on his behalf. The men's squad was awarded the gold after the American team of Leonard Byrd, Pettigrew, Derrick Brew and Angelo Taylor were disqualified due to Pettigrew's doping admission. The Bahamas won the gold medal in 2:58.19 seconds, which was a new national record at that time. The foursome of Brown, McIntosh, Munnings and Moncur expressed delight and gratitude in receiving the medals even though they had to wait several years for it. Munnings said: "It is a great feeling even though it has been a long time coming, but it is an indication that dedication and hard work pays off and you can do it clean. I am very happy about this moment." All six athletes were presented with checks from the Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, the Hon. Desmond Bannister, as a part of the government's remuneration program which came into effect following those 2001 World Championships. Monday, June 29, 2009