Bahamian quarter-mile sensation Steven Gardiner powered his way to a world-leading time of 43.74 seconds, crossing the finish line first in the men's 400 meters (m) at the Gyulai István Memorial at the Bregyó Athletic Center in Székesfehérvár, Hungary, yesterday.

It was the second-fastest time of his career and the sixth time that the national record holder has dipped under the 44-second mark in that event.

Also in action at that meet was sprinter Anthonique Strachan and long jumper LaQuan Nairn.

Gardiner was back in action after running here at home at the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA) Junior and Senior National Track and Field Championships less than two weeks ago. He ran 44.64 seconds in the 400m final at home to successfully defend his national title. It looked like he was going to run under 44 seconds in that race, but he appeared to shut it down in the final 30 meters.

The race yesterday was the first time Gardiner he went sub-44 seconds for the season, making a return to the track after missing the majority of last season with tendon inflammation.

Gardiner gave a preview yesterday of what Bahamians and track and field fans around the world can expect at the World Athletics Championships in just over a month's time in Budapest, Hungary.

The race was a foregone conclusion as Gardiner came into the home stretch.

Gardiner finished ahead of Jamaican national record holder in that event Rusheen McDonald who ran a time of 44.03 seconds – the fastest he has run since 2015 and the first time he has run sub-45 seconds in that span. American Vernon Norwood placed third with a time of 44.63 seconds.

Strachan was in action in the women's 200m after being in action in the 100m dash on Sunday at the Silesia Kamila Skolimowska Memorial at the Stadion Śląski in Chorzów, Poland.

On Tuesday, the 29-year-old Strachan finished third after stopping the clock at 22.45 seconds. It was her third-fastest time this season as she also gears up for the world championships next month.

Winning that race was Jamaican Shericka Jackson in 22.02 seconds. Irish sprinter Rhasidat Adeleke posted a time of 22.36 seconds for second.

Strachan was in action in the 100m dash that featured Jackson and American Sha'Carri Richardson in the Poland Diamond League Meet on Sunday. The Bahamian finished sixth in that race in a time of 11.05 seconds.

Richardson won that race on Sunday in a time of 10.76 seconds. Jackson took the silver medal, running 10.78 seconds.

Nairn was in the long jump pit yesterday, leaping 7.74m (25' 4-3/4") to place seventh out of 10 competitors. Greek athlete Miltiadis Tentoglou won that event with a leap of 8.29m (27' 2-1/2").

The Bahamian was coming off a 7.46m (24' 5-3/4") leap at the Bahamian nationals. He has a season's best of 8.11m (26' 7-1/4") that he did in Lausanne, Switzerland, in late June, and is still chasing the world championships qualifying distance of 8.25m (27' 1").

The post Gardiner runs world-leading time appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.

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