Barbadian track and field icon Yolande Straughn has lauded Aniya Nurse of The St Michael School, after Nurse broke her longstanding Under-20 girls’ 100m record.
Competing during the Dasani BSSAC finals last week, Nurse went under Straughn’s old record of 11.64 seconds, which she set in 1985, on two occasions. The first effort was ruled out due to being wind assisted, but Nurse returned in the final to clock 11.55 seconds. Straughn previously held the national 200m record as well before that was broken by Sada Williams in 2016.
Speaking during The Weekend Sports Show, Straughn revealed that while she did not watch the record-breaking performance live, based on Nurse’s form at the zonal level she knew the record would be broken.
“I watched her perform that week because I was off for my birthday weekend and I knew she was going to break the record, so I really am so proud of Aniya.
“I know a lot of people said it was 41 years and they wonder why the record stood for 41 years, but nothing happens before God’s timing, so Aniya was the person supposed to get that record,” Straughn said.
“Her drive and determination; I saw her face in the blocks and I saw her face during the race, so I knew that she had the potential to be successful.
I’m just proud that Barbados has another protege that is up and coming and I know she’ll do well with good coaching.”
Straughn, who now lives in the USA and set her BSSAC records as a student of Ellerslie Secondary School, also offered some advice to Nurse, who will be competing in Grenada this weekend at the CARIFTA Games.
“I’m so excited and glad for you, so I want you to know that no record lasts forever. Always try to break your own record so that you know that you’re reaching your full potential, so you can be successful in whatever you do.
“Even if somebody breaks your record, don’t be sad. That means they’re reaching their potential too as well,” Straughn advised.
(KH)
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