Gaither finishes fourth in women’s 200m

The season continues for Bahamian elite athletes despite the setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Over at the 2020 Drake Blue Oval Showcase, hosted by Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, Bahamian speedster TyNia Gaither was in action. It’s been a busy season for the 27-year-old Grand Bahamian as she took part in a number of 60 meters (m) races indoors, ran a 60m race outdoors, ran both the 100 and 200m outdoors and ran the 200m indoors.

On Saturday, she lined up in her specialty, the 200m outdoors.

Gaither finished third in her heat and was fourth overall in a modest 23.08 seconds.

A trio of Americans took the top three spots. Representing Adidas, Lynna Irby finished first in 22.52 seconds. Nike athlete Kyra Jefferson was second in 22.69 seconds and Shakima Wimbley, of Adidas, rounded out the top three in 23.07 seconds.

All of the performances were wind-aided.

Bahamian Olympic Champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo lined up to compete in one of the two heats but did not finish the race. According to reports, she felt a little discomfort about 70 meters into the race and decided to stop.

The meet was the first major track and field event on US soil since Drake hosted the USA Championships July 25-28, 2019. The meet brought nearly 80 athletes from 10 countries to the Blue Oval, a field that included 20 Olympians and eight Olympic medalists.

As for Gaither, she has had a respectable season, turning in season-best times of 7.31 seconds and 23.73 seconds in the 60 and 200m indoors, and 11.59 seconds in the 100m outdoors. She also ran a personal best time of 7.46 seconds in a 60m outdoor race.

Just a week ago, at the American Track League Meet #7 on the campus of Life University in Marietta, Georgia, Gaither ran to victory in 11.61 seconds in the women’s 100m after running 11.59 seconds in the heats. 

Before that, in Texas where she trains, she was splendid in taking both the women’s 60 and 100m.

The two-time world finalist in the women’s 200m is gearing up for a run at what would be her second consecutive Olympic Games. The postponed Olympics is set for July 23 to August 8, 2021, still in Tokyo, Japan. Gaither is one of six Bahamian athletes who have qualified. She went under the qualifying standards in both the women’s 100 and 200m.

The other Bahamian qualifiers are Miller-Uibo in both the women’s 200 and 400m, Steven Gardiner in the men’s 400m, Samson Colebrooke in the men’s 100m, Pedrya Seymour in the women’s 100m hurdles and Jamal Wilson in the men’s high jump.

source https://thenassauguardian.com/gaither-finishes-fourth-in-womens-200m/