By TENAJH SWEETING

Tribune Sports Reporter

tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMIAN indoor national record holder Anthaya Charlton soared to new heights at the 2025 Razorback Invitational over the weekend to be named Athlete of the Week by the US Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

The weekly honour was well deserved as the University of Florida athlete set a number of new records in the finals of the women’s long jump event at the Randal Tyson Indoor Centre in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

The 21-year-old opened her season with a world-leading jump of 6.98m (22’-10 ¾ inches) to set a new personal best, faculty and meet record in the victory.

Her winning jump surpassed the previous faculty record of 6.93m set by American Olympian Tara Davis-Woodhall in 2021. 

Additionally, she took down the former world indoor champion’s meet record of 6.76m which was set just last year.

If that was not enough, Charlton etched her name in Bahamian history books as the new national record holder in the women’s long jump event (indoors). 

The previous national record of 6.82m belonged to Daphne Saunders and was set in Gainesville, Florida on February 26, 1994.The season-opening jump placed Charlton second all-time in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) indoors and second in the University of Florida’s programme history. American Claire Bryant secured the second position with her leap of 6.70m (21’ 11 ¾ inches). Machaeda Linton, representing Louisiana State University (LSU), rounded out the top three with her jump of 6.63m (21’-9 inches).

The younger sister of world indoor record holder Devynne Charlton also competed in the women’s 60m. She ran 7.38 seconds in the prelims but did not compete in the finals.

If the season opener was any indication of things to come for Charlton, the 2025 season will be one for the books for the University of Florida track and field performer.

She was not the only Bahamian to be recognised this week.

Abaco native Lamarr Williams earned the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Student-Athlete of the Week honours after his performances at the Midwest Classic over the weekend.

He placed in the top three of both the men’s 60m and 200m events, posting times of 6.82 seconds and 22.20 seconds respectively at the meet. He is now ranked first in the NCCAA in both events once again proving to be a top athlete for Bethel University.

Clayton State University freshman Payton Knowles also had a pair of impressive runs over the weekend at the Tiger Indoor Invitational to be named Athlete of the Week.

Knowles opened the event with a third place finish in the women’s 55m dash. She clocked 7.42 seconds in that event.

She followed up the performance with a second place finish in the women’s 200m dash. She stopped the clock at 27.21 seconds in her showing.

With the indoor season in full swing, Bahamian athletes continue to excel at the collegiate and pro levels.