Bahamians Sturrup, Sands star in Gent

GENT, Belgium, CMC – Bahamians were hot at the Flanders indoor meet, where the veteran Chandra Sturrup and Shamar Sands posted wins on Sunday.

The 38-year-old Sturrup recorded her quickest time this year in the 60 metres dash, and Sands also registered a season’s best as he landed the 60-metre hurdles.

There was also a convincing victory for Brian Mariano of the Netherlands Antilles in the men’s 60.

Sturrup clocked 7.22 seconds to land the women’s 60m, upsetting Myriam Soumare of France (7.25 secs), with Gloria Asumnu of the United States in third (7.26 secs).

Sands set a personal best in the 60m hurdles in the same event in a surprise finish. He was again a convincing winner, when he exploded off the blocks, and left his competitors with no chance to come back.

Sands set a strong seasonal best of 7.54 secs, topping Jamaican Dwight Thomas in second in 7.64 secs.

The 60m dash witnessed a surprise victory by Brian Mariano from the Dutch Antilles. The compatriot of the well-known Churandy Martina brought his personal best spectacularly down to 6.60 secs.