By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

ABACO native Steven Gardiner got his 2021 outdoor season started with an impressive performance in the men's 400 metres at the Tom Jones Memorial Invitational on the Percy Beard Track at the University of Florida on Saturday.

Showing that he’s ready for the postponed 2020 Olympic Games in July in Tokyo, Japan, Gardiner produced one of the fastest times so far this year, clocking 44.71 seconds, well ahead of Great Britain’s Matthew Hudson-Smith of Pure Athletic, who was second in 45.53.

The 25-year-old slender 6-foot, 4-inch Gardiner holds the Bahamian national record of 43.48 that he set in winning the World Athletics’ 2019 World Championships’ 400m title. He’s hoping to add the Olympic title to his résumé in Tokyo, Japan in July.

Bahamian Kinard Rolle was sixth in the other heat in 47.43 for 10th place overall. Rolle was also seventh in his heat of the 200m in 21.73 for 19th.

American Fred Kerley, competing for Nike, won the event in 20.24. On the collegiate front, LaQuan Nairn, competing for the University of Arkansas, was sixth in the men’s long jump with a leap of 24-feet, 5-inches or 7.44 metres. Isaacs Grimes, a junior at Florida State, won with 25-11 1/2 (7.91m).

And Xavier Coakley, a transfer senior at the University of Miami from Auburn University, got eighth in the men’s 110m hurdles in 14.02. Grant Holloway of adidas won with 13.07.

On the female side, two former St Augustine’s College standouts went head-to-head again in the 400m. This time, Doneisha Anderon, representing the University of Florida, got the better of the deal.

Bahamians at Husker Big Invite

At the Husker Big Invitational, Devine Parker of Ohio State was 20th overall in 12.24 in the women's 200m. Anavia Battle of Ohio State won the event in 11.24.

In the men’s century, Adrian Curry of Ohio State was ninth in 10.88. Tavonte Mott, also from Ohio State, was 24th in 11.10. Eric Harrison, also from Ohio State, won in 10.34.

In the 200m, Curry was 14th in 21.58 and Mott was 21st in 21.98. Malcolm Dotson of Purdue won in 21.01.

On the field, Jyles Etienne of Indiana University was seventh in the men's high jump with 6-feet, 6 1/4-inches or 1.99 metres). Jonathan Wells of Illinois won with 7-0 1.4 (2.14m).

Seymour fourth at War Eagle Invite

After a stopover here at home following her last meet last weekend, Pedrya Seymour returned to competition on Saturday at the War Eagle Invitational in Auburn, Alabama as she continued her preparation for the Olympics.

The 100m hurdles specialist, as anticipated, competed in the women’s 200m where she was fourth overall after she placed third in her heat in 23.79. Caisja Chandler, a sophomore at Cincinnati, won in 22.92.