LONDON, England - When one thinks about the fastest Bahamian woman this year, the names Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie, Anthonique Strachan and Chandra Sturrup might come to mind. However, they have all been trumped by the "silent assassin" Sheniqua Ferguson.
The diminutive but powerful Ferguson opened her season with a stunning 11.07 clocking in Auburn, Alabama, to put the world on notice that she has arrived and is about to explode on the senior scene. Two weeks before she ran that personal best time in the 100m, she set her personal best time in the 200m, clocking 22.64 seconds, also in Auburn.
The 22-year-old sprinter had her "coming out party" this year, and now has a realistic shot of qualifying for the finals in both short sprints at the 30th Olympic Games in London, England.
"It feels really good to make the Olympic team again. Going into these Olympics, I look forward to competing but also doing better than I did in 2008," said Ferguson in an interview. "That was my first Olympics, and I did my best, but the nerves were there because it was my first Olympics. I grew up a lot. I feel that this time, I could make it to the final. We'll just have to wait and see how it goes."
Ferguson certainly has matured into a world class sprinter. Along with youngsters like Anthonique Strachan and Shaunae Miller, they have taken the baton from the "Golden Girls" and have carried it well. Ferguson-McKenzie and Chandra Sturrup are still on the scene, but there's no doubt that the future of Bahamian female sprinting lies in the hands, or rather the feet, of up-and-coming athletes like Ferguson, Strachan and Miller.
As mentioned earlier, Ferguson has been the fastest of the lot this year, though. Her specialty over the years has really been the 200m, but after running 11.07 in her first 100m race of the year, she figures to be a realistic threat in that event here in London as well.
"When I ran that 11.07 in April, it came as a surprise to me because I wasn't looking to run so fast so early in the season," said Ferguson. "I knew I was going to run fast this year, but it came very early, and I felt that it only could get better from there. Unfortunately, I had a little injury at nationals, but training has been going very well and now I'm ready to run. I just have to sharpen up on a few things and get ready for competition."
As a teenager in 2008, Ferguson made it to the semi-finals of the women's 200m in her first Olympic experience. The former World Junior Champion in the event has her sights set on the final here in London. She'll certainly have her hands full as both the United States and Jamaica are coming three deep in both short sprints, and then there are other sprinters like Trinidad's Kelly Ann-Baptiste, and Blessing Okagbare, from Nigeria, who could make their presence felt as well.

Round one of the women's 100m will be held Friday, and the semi-finals and final are set for Saturday. The first round of the women's 200m is set for Monday, August 6, the semi-finals will take on Tuesday, August 7, and the final is set for Wednesday, August 8.

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