By TENAJH SWEETING

Tribune Sports Reporter

tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

WORLD indoor record holder Devynne Charlton received a warm welcome home by her family members, supporters and students of her alma mater St. Augustine’s College at the Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools (BAISS) Track and Field Championships on Friday at the original Thomas A Robinson Stadium.

On International Women’s Day, the 60 metres hurdles world indoors champion received her flowers in person courtesy of officials from the BAAA, NACAC and BAISS.

The top hurdler shared how it felt to observe younger athletes flourish at the BAISS Track and Field Meet she once thrived at in her younger days. “It feels really good to be back, especially at BAISS. This is really where I got my start in high school level competition, high stress environments, and it just comes full circle to be back here as a world record holder knowing that this is where I got my start. The energy is just like I remember it. Track meets don’t look like this anymore on the pro level and so it is really interesting for me to be on the other side in the stands, just feeling that energy, watching the meet and watching these kids have fun,” Charlton said.

Before making her return to home soil, the World Indoors gold medallist had the indoor season of her life. She turned heads by breaking the 16-year-old record of 7.68 seconds set by Susanna Kallur with her time of 7.67 seconds in February at the Millrose Games in New York City.

A few days later, American Tia Jones shared the record with Charlton but that would not last long. The Puma athlete took the world indoor record for herself at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow, Scotland, clocking 7.65 seconds for bragging rights and a gold-medal finish in the women’s 60mH.

The latest accomplish- ment has opened the floodgates for support coming in Charlton’s direction from supporters all around the world.

“I just wanna thank everybody for supporting me. These last three weeks have been a little crazy. I have seen all the posts and well wishes and it is things like that that keeps me going.

“I just wanna say how much I appreciate it. Thank you,” a visibly emotional Charlton said.

The six-member team of Charlton, Charisma Taylor, Ken Mullings, LaQuan Nairn, Anthonique Strachan and Donald Thomas finished locked in a seven-way tie for ninth place in the World Indoors medal count.

“I just wanna start by thanking those that made this possible who accompanied the team in Glasgow. Coach Cash, who is an excellent team manager/coach as well as Nick, who is our therapist, made sure that we were taken care of. I also want to congratulate everybody that competed for Team Bahamas, Charisma, Anthonique, Ken, Donald and LaQuan. I think for a 6-member team we ended up coming away tied for ninth place overall. I think that’s pretty significant,” she said.

Drumeco Archer, president of the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA), was proud of the way Charlton represented the country.

“There is a reason why we say it is better in The Bahamas. It is better in The Bahamas because we create the best stories of success everyday. We have produced scientists to Olympic/World medallists and we teach our people to conquer the world. When our athletes compete for our schools and our country, they represent all of us and all of what we believe in - sports, scholarship and love for a big blue Bahamas. We believe that we are the best, we believe that we can change a country and we believe that we can change the world through sports and through Devynne and many others we have,” he said.

Mike Sands, president of the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletics Association (NACAC), had the pleasure of watching the world indoor champion blossom into the top athlete she is today and credited her astute dedication for her continued successes.

“Devynne, I have had the pleasure to watch from infancy to today. Devynne has four attributes that make her who she is today. First of all, she is very laser-focused but [also] the four d’s - desire, determination, discipline and dedication. Devynne gets into the zone and she knows and means business so I am very pleased to be able to congratulate her and for her to be able to allow the NACAC area to maintain its standing in the world rankings,” Sands said.

The NACAC president acknowledged Charlton’s support system from her parents Dave and Laura Charlton as well as her coach Rolando “Lonnie” Greene, who played an instrumental role in her development over the years.

Sands said it was even more important to recognise Charlton’s notable accolades on International Women’s Day which she felt was very special.

“I think it’s really significant and it is really special because this was once a male-dominated field, sports that is. I think that representation matters. If one little Bahamian girl can see me on the world stage, breaking world records and have the dream to do the same, I think I have done my job,” she said.

Team manager Demarius Cash thanked all officials, executives and Bahamian athletes involved in the success of the six-member team at the World Indoors.

Following an indoor season nothing short of successful, the reigning female Tribune Athlete of the Month is looking forward to the outdoor season headed into the Paris Olympic Games.