By TENAJH SWEETING

Tribune Sports Reporter

tsweeting@tribunemedia.net    

Less than a month after unofficially setting a new record in the masters 55-59 (outdoor) 400 metres event, Bahamian Olympian Timothy Munnings lowered his previous time at the 19th Diana Lynn Thompson Road Runners Track and Field Classic on Saturday at the original Thomas A Robinson Stadium.

Munnings stopped the clock at 51.18 seconds in the men’s 400m open to officially become the fastest man in the masters 55-59 (outdoor). His latest time was well under his previous mark of 52.04 seconds, achieved at the DTSP Wolfpack/Mike Sands Track Classic last month.

The 58-year-old quarter miler was pleased to set another masters world record in the 400m event.

“It really feels good to come away with the record again. I think it speaks volumes to the amount of hard work that I have been putting in consistently. Consistency and hard work is key for making this happen,” he said. The 2001 World Outdoor relay gold medallist finished fourth in the event.

Keon Williams, of Tazmanian Speed, crossed the finish line first in 48.47 seconds. 

Dennis Williamson, representing the University of The Bahamas, secured a second place finish in 49.41 seconds. 

Foltain Robinson, of Tazmanian Speed, was third overall, posting a time of 49.82 seconds.

Munnings said he was confident in his ability to finish the race strong despite a rough start by his standards.

“There aren’t any local masters athletes running in the 400m so I always run in the open category with persons that are less than 25-years-old. I am running with the young guns so the competition is always stiff but I have never been afraid of competition and it is really only making me better,” he said.

“I was confident that I put in enough work to be somewhat competitive. I got out and struggled initially in the first part of the race and had to work a little hard on the back but I was able to fight through and was still in good position with a record at the end of the race.”

The Bahamian Olympic bronze medallist has consistently shaved some time off his numbers at the local track club meets. 

Last month he dipped under the 21-year-old Masters World Record of 52.24 seconds set by American Charles Allie at the World Masters Championships in Carolina, Puerto Rico on July 12, 2003.

Although he is outrunning “father time” one track meet at a time, he admitted that running against younger competition pushes him to compete harder.

“Running with the young athletes definitely helps me. Although I am not an elite athlete as I once was, I always still feel as though I should be winning. They are really pulling me along, making me better and that is why I keep breaking these records. I hope in the same process I am causing them to really try harder to qualify for CARIFTA and other events this year. I enjoy competition. I am not afraid of it and I like it,” he said.

He offered a special thanks to coach Bernard Newbold and the talented sprinters he trains with every evening.

“Each session I am pushed to extreme limits as I try to keep pace with them. Meanwhile, they push the pace to make sure I don’t get confused. It’s really good to know that I am the undisputed fastest 400m masters athlete in the world. This reinforces The Bahamas’ reputation as a sports powerhouse,” he said.

The Bahamian ageless wonder had winning performances at the 2024 World Masters Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden last August. 

He won a gold medal in the men’s 55-59 400m and intends to do the same at the 2025 World Masters Athletics Indoor Championships in Gainesville, Florida on March 23-30.

“I got messages that they are sending their best to challenge me. I am ready and I am ready right now to go. Last year I won the World Outdoor Masters Championships so now I intend to win the World Indoor Masters Championships next month,” he said.