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

The Bahamian trio of athletes attending Southwest Mississippi Community College are making final preparations for the National Track and Field Championships in the National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association (NJCAA). Sheniqua Ferguson, Krystal Bodie and Jamaal Wilson will all compete in their first collegiate outdoor

championships, which are set for May 15-17 in Levelland, Texas. All three athletes are highly ranked, in their respective events, in the conference.

Ferguson leads the NJCAA conference in the 100m, with a season's best time of 11.44 seconds, recorded at the LSU Tiger Invitational in April. Bodie is also listed in the top performers with her season's best time of 11.94 seconds in the event. She is ninth overall.

In the 200m, Ferguson is ranked third with a best of 23.75 seconds, which was also recorded at the LSU Tiger Invitational in April. The leading time is 23.58 seconds, ran by Liann Kellman of Central Arizona. Ferguson has shown steady improvements in both the 100m and 200m. At the beginning of her season, which was March 15 at the South Mississippi Invitational, she ran 11.71 seconds. At the Carifta Track and Field Championships, she clocked 11.50 seconds for a

bronze medal. She returned to college to compete in the LSU Tiger Relays, where she ran 11.66 seconds for second place.

Ferguson said: "Adjusting to college was a little difficult at first but now that I am in the groove of things it is becoming easier. I am pleased with my performances so far, but there is always room for improvement. I am looking forward to the nationals where I want to win both the 100 and 200m. I believe that I can do it if I continue to train hard and focus on the goal. I just want to run a fast time and if that is enough to get me the record, then I will be pleased, but overall I am just looking to go out there and do my best."

As far as the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA) Scotiabank Olympic Trials are concerned, Ferguson admits that she is more than thrilled to be one of the junior athletes competing at the meet, but revealed that she will not allow the accomplishments in the past to determine her future.

"I want to make a statement out there," she said. "I know that a lot of pressure will be on the junior athletes but as long as I run my race I think I will be able to make that statement. I am excited knowing that I may have an opportunity to be a part of the 4x100m team for the Olympics. That is why I am going to give it my all."

For Bodie, setting a new junior national record in the 100m hurdles, last weekend, was a great indication for her as she heads into the nationals. The hurdler is hoping to shave a few more hundredths of a seconds off her time at the nationals and return home to lower it even more. This past weekend, Bodie clocked 13.56 seconds, which was marked as a new Bahamian junior national record. She also posted a fast time in the 200m, which she will be competing in at the nationals. The time is recorded at 24.74 seconds.

High jumper Jamaal Wilson is ranked second in the field of jumpers in the NJCAA with a season's best leap of 2.19m. The leading jump is 2.21m posted by Randel Carter of Johnson County Community College.