Shaunae Miller humbled by Icon Award honor

Tue, Jul 5th 2016, 10:43 AM

Bahamian speedster Shaunae Miller is a winner again.

The 22-year-old athletics star picked up the Bahamian Icon Award for Sports at the awards ceremony at the Melia Nassau Beach Resort on Saturday night, beating out basketball players Chavanno "Buddy" Hield and Jonquel Jones; three-time national champion Jimmy Norius from bodybuilding and fitness; and Bahamian Olympic rower Emily Morley.

Miller had a phenomenal year in athletics, setting personal best times in both the 200 and 400 meters (m), breaking Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie's national record in the former, and culminating the year with a silver medal run at the Beijing World Championships. It's hard to believe that she is only 22, and still very early in her athletics career. The mega star just continues to get better and better.

"I just feel blessed. I thank God so much for it," she said yesterday. "To win another award is a huge blessing for me. I thank God for the support and love of the Bahamian people. It's truly an honor."

Miller is a former world youth and world junior champion. She is a former Austin Sealy winner at the CARIFTA Games, and has won numerous medals locally, regionally and internationally in her athletics career. She transcends athletics here in The Bahamas, and sports in general.

Despite her many accomplishments, Miller said that winning the Bahamian Icon Award for Sports still came as a surprise to her. She is humbled by the honor.

"Well, I knew that I was up against Buddy Hield and some other good sportsmen and sportswomen, so to come out on top was a bit of a surprise. Buddy just made it to the NBA so I figured there's no way I'm going to get it over him. All I could say is that I'm blessed," said Miller.

"I thank those who voted in my favor, and I'm just glad that it worked out. We have a lot of great athletes in The Bahamas, and to be considered as one of the best is truly an honor."

Both Hield and Jones were selected sixth overall in their respective professional league drafts - Hield to the New Orleans Pelicans in the National Basketball Association (NBA), and Jones initially to the Los Angeles Sparks but later traded to the Connecticut Sun, in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Both had standout collegiate careers.

Norius has been The Bahamas' best bodybuilder over the past three years, and later this summer, Morley will become the first Bahamian to compete in the Olympic Games in rowing.

"Something like this only motivates me to train harder and go out there and compete stronger," said Miller. "I'm so thankful for all of the support. I have a lot of kids looking up to me as well, so I have to go out there and represent well for them and for the Bahamian people. I'm really excited for the Olympics, and going out there and seeing what I could do."

Miller is the only Bahamian to qualify in three events for the 2016 Olympics, set for August 5-21, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She has run qualifying times in the 100 (11.19 seconds), 200 (22.05 seconds) and 400m (49.67 seconds). However, she only ran the 400 at the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA) Senior National Championships last month. That could be indicative of what she will do at the Olympics.

"The 200 and the 400 is not an easy double. For now, I'm focusing on the 400, but it all depends on the decision by the coaches. I'm just taking it one gold medal at a time. It's going to be a challenge, but I'm expecting the best," said Miller.

"The 400 is my focus, and the time that's going to win will probably be a 48. We're going to go for it."

A 48 by Miller would break the national record, currently 49.07 seconds held by Tonique Williams. Miller's personal best in the event is 49.67 seconds, which she ran to win the silver medal at the Beijing World Championships last year. This year, she was the world leader for much of the year until American Allyson Felix ran 49.68 seconds to win the U.S. national title on Sunday. Miller's season's best time is 49.69 seconds, run at the Chris Brown Bahamas Invitational (CBBI) in April.

As for Felix, she was out with an ankle injury for much of the year, but appears to be back to form.

"I'm glad she's back and glad she's healthy. I want to be able to race her healthy," said Miller about the challenge from Felix. "It's going to be a challenge and I'm looking forward to it. A lot of girls are running very well right now, not just me and Allyson. It's going to come down to who has more guts at the end, and I'm looking forward to it."

Felix is an icon in her own right. She is one of a dozen women to ever run under 50 seconds in the 400m and under 22 seconds in the 200m. Miller is on pace to accomplish the same in the not-too-distant future.

At just 22, she has a long way to go in the sport. The sky is the limit for the Bahamian track star.

Sheldon Longley, Guardian Sports Editor

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