The multi-talented athlete had a promising collegiate career when she graduated from C R Walker.

But after putting it on hold for another four years due to the birth of her two daughters, Melinda Bastian is now fulfilling her goals and aspirations at Benedict College.

Having just completed her junior year, Bastian had a stellar year in volleyball, softball and track and field where she has earned All-American and All-Conference honours and set numerous records in all three disciplines.

The major is back after taking a four-year break in 2002, and she's performing at the level that she expected, especially in track and field.

"My season was pretty decent," said Bastian, an All-Academic student, who is now back home for the summer break. "Last year, I finished second in the javelin, but this year I was third.

"I won our conference. I won the MVP title for the region. In fact, this past semester, I took home 21 individual awards in the javelin, heptathlon, shot put, high jump. I've done it all."

In track and field alone, Bastian scored a record 53 points while participating in seven events for the Tigers as they finished second at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

That earned her the Women's Field Athlete of the Year honour.

In softball, Bastian helped the Tigers to complete the season with a 25-7 win-loss record and 16-6 in their conference before they got eliminated from the SIAC Softball Championships with a 9-8 loss to Kentucky State University.

Playing shortstop, Bastian was named to the SIAC All-Conference Softball team.

And in volleyball, Bastian was joined by Bahamian Camilla Miller on the SIAC Volleyball All-Tournament team.

Bastian was also on the SIAC Volleyball All-Conference team as a member of the first team and she was named the Offensive Player of the Year. She and Miller assisted the Tigers in posting a 13-4 record and 10-4 in conference play.

At the end of it all, Bastian earned her second consecutive MVP honour.

"I'm just excited that I'm back playing again," said Bastian, who took a break from college. "Throughout my high school years, I did a fantastic year and even when I was in Kansas, I got All-American in my freshman year.

"My inspiration is the fact that I have two daughters now. I just wanted to be able to do something for them. I really want to inspire them."

Her daughters, six-year-old Dashawana Bastian and four-year-old Vanessa Sawyer, have motivated their mother to the point that she now feels that with her ability, she can go all the way and represent the Bahamas at the Olympic Games, either in the javelin or the heptathlon.

This weekend, Bastian intends to compete at the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations' BTC National Open Track and Field Championships. And she is looking to make her presence felt in the javelin as she provides some competition to retiring veteran national record holder Lavern Eve.

"I look forward to competing with Lavern," said Bastian, who admitted that she only went up against the 44-year-old once in her career.

As Eve starts to wind down her career, Bastian said she hopes that "I can learn some things from her."

"She still has a lot of technique that I can get from her. But from me to her, I just want her to know that I intend to be the next Lavern Eve."

And while she's willing to learn from the Bahamas' best, Bastian said she hopes that other Bahamian athletes will take a page out of her book.

"I just want them to know that they should not let anything stop them from achieving their goals," she pointed out. "Only you can determine how far you can go in correcting your error.

"You might fail here and there, but failure is not the end of your life. When one door closes, another one will open up. So be prepared to use whatever avenue you are presented with."

At age 26, Bastian said it's not hard for her to adjust to competing with and against the younger athletes in college. At 5-feet, 11-inches, she's holding her own and doing it well.

"It's an inspiration for me. It's spectacular," she summed up. "A lot of people have been telling me that my career in sports was over after I had my first child. But here I am, doing it and doing it at a high level. I have no regrets."

While home, in addition to working with the Jackie Conyers Volleyball Camp this week at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium, Bastian intends to also work as an instructor with the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture's summer programme in July.

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