Pan American Games gold medalist Jeffery Gibson’s hot start to the 2018 outdoor season continued on Saturday, at the Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa, United States, as Gibson delivered one of his best performances of the year so far, capturing gold in the elite men’s 400-metres (m) in 49.09 seconds.
Against some stiff competition, Gibson, representing Nike, got off to a fast start in lane six and never allowed his competition threaten the lead.
Adidas athlete Michael Stigler was second in 49.24 seconds, and Nike athlete T.J. Holmes captured bronze in 49.29 seconds.
Gibson’s win at the Drake Relays comes on the heels of a silver medal performance at the 2019 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.
Representing The Bahamas at the games, Gibson crossed the line second in 49.10 seconds, behind Kyron McMaster from the British Virgin Islands in 48.35 seconds.
Gibson is expected to join fellow elite Bahamian athletes Steven Gardiner and Shaunae Miller-Uibo in Doha, Qatar, for the opening meet of the International Association of Athletic Federations’ (IAAF) Diamond League.
Gibson will compete in the 400 hurdles, while Gardiner runs in the traditional 400 and Miller-Uibo competes in the women’s 200m dash.
Miller-Uibo was also successful at the Commonwealth Games in Australia, winning gold in the 200 in 22.09. seconds.
Gardiner has also seen his share of success this season. On April 9, at the Miami Hurricanes Alumni Invitational in Miami, Florida, Gardiner set another national record at the meet however, this time it wasn’t in his specialty – the 400-metres (m).
Against a competitive field, Gardiner became the first Bahamian to go under 20 seconds in the men’s 200m dash, finishing in 19.75 seconds.
