She's 35 now, as the year closes out.  Come January 16, 2012, Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie will be 36. With Chandra Sturrup on the shelf for 2011 and her future uncertain, she having seen 40 summers, Ferguson-McKenzie is the pace-setting matriarch for Bahamian sports.  She's still running fast and furious with the finest other countries of the world have to offer. This year, she had a best of 11.09 in the 100 meters, which is very much world class and not that far away from her top mark of 10.91, done nine years ago in 2002.

Ferguson-McKenzie will not likely match or surpass her national record of 22.19 for the 200 meters, registered in 1999, but she ran 22.76 this year.  Her Hall Of Fame status in the International Association of Athletic Federations is assured.  She has a glittering performance record.  Following one of the better junior careers in Bahamian history, she began her senior medal collection way back in 1996 as a member of the original Golden Girls' 200 meters Olympic team that placed second in the final of the event in Atlanta.

Sprint relay gold medals in both the 1999 World Championships and the 2000 Olympics; gold in the 2002 Commonwealth Games sprint relay, plus 100 and 200 meters gold medals; 1999 World Championships 200 meters gold; a bronze medal in the 2004 Olympic 200 meters; a 200 meters bronze medal and sprint relay silver during the 2009 World Championships, Pan Am Games and Central American and Caribbean Games individual success in both the 100 meters and the 200 meters, and a strong force on the world circuit amount to a synopsis of what Ferguson-McKenzie has achieved.

From a totally Bahamian perspective, she stands solidly as that beacon for the younger female sprinters.  Ferguson-McKenzie is still clearly a class above all of the younger track ladies.  She will undoubtedly be the lead sprinter this coming summer when the London 2012 Olympic Games unfold on July 27.  Indeed Ferguson-McKenzie has been a great inspiration for all, but in particular, a cadre of female sprinters would do well to emulate the grace, passion, attitude and work ethic of the original Golden Girl.

In London, looking to Ferguson-McKenzie for guidance will probably be the young 400 meters star Shaunae Miller and a bevy of short sprinters, including Anthonique Strachan, Sheniqua Ferguson, Nivea Smith and Cache Armbrister.  That lot along with Ferguson and Sturrup (if she returns to action) represent a great medal opportunity for The Bahamas.

My, how time flies!

At the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, Ferguson was the relative rookie among the original Golden Girls.  She has persevered quite well and now she is an appropriate mentor for those who aspire to duplicate the wonders of the Golden Girls and add to the fabulous legacy.
No doubt, she is up for the task.
Happy Holidays Golden Girl matriarch!
 
(To respond to this column, kindly contact Fred Sturrup at fredericksturrup@gmail.com).
 
 

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