Broncs Diary

EDINBURG - Needing to run just one-third of a second faster to qualify for the NCAA Regionals, Jameson Strachan is a confident sprinter from the Bahamas.

"My Pan American mentor, Coach Dennis Darling, won an Olympic medal in the 440 relay," Strachan said. "I look up to him. We have both run for the Bahamas, and he did what he said he would, make me mentally tough.

"Normally I don't lean at the finish line. For this, I will. I ran 47.5 seconds in Houston. I need 47.2 in Dallas next week to qualify for Nebraska. Good things happen to those who wait, and the best is yet to come."

Assistant athletic trainer Joanna Ruiz joked with Strachan, who was being treated for a slight muscle sprain.

"I'm going right back on the track, get up and going," he said. "I feel lighter this time. I am 20 and have run as a junior in nine countries, including China, Brazil, Canada, and around the Caribbean. The Bahmas have many good runners. I appreciate Coach Darling helping me. He knows running as one of the best in the world.

"My biggest win has to be the Carafla Games on Guadalupe. We ran the 4x4 relay in a record for juniors, 3.06:56. The old record was set by my mentor, Coach Darling, whose team ran 3:10," Strachan said.

On the last day of finals, Strachan continued the double duty of a student athlete. He is a business administration major.