By BARBARA WALKIN

Senior FN Reporter

barbara@nasguard.com

Debbie Ferguson-McKen-zie and Leevan 'Superman' Sands helped Team Bahamas secure third place in the Central American and Caribbean Champion-ships (CAC) Games over the weekend.

The games, which were held in Cali, Columbia, saw Team Bahamas coming in behind Trinidad and Tobago and host country Columbia.

Ferguson-McKenzie and Sands recorded their PBs (personal best) at the weekend games, as they upped their gold medal chances for the Olympics set for August in Beijing.

Ferguson-McKenzie, 2001 World champion and 2004 Olympic bronze medallist in the 200m, won her first gold medal at the CAC Champion-ships by taking the victory in a season's best of 22.78 (wind 0.3) under a heavy rain.

Strangely, said reports, Ferguson-McKenzie win was also the first one for The Bahamas at this distance in the CAC.

Ferguson-McKenzie, 32, who claimed the national title at BAAAs National Trials two weeks ago in New Providence dominated Cuba's Roxana Díaz (SB of 22.82) and Colombia's Darlenys Obregón (SB of 23.13).

As a result of her performance in the weekend championships, Ferguson-McKenzie is even more confident of her chances at the Olympics.

As for Sands, he recorded the best performance on the second day of competitions of the 21st Central American and Caribbean Champion-ships, which was held at the stadium Pedro Grajales Stadium.

The 27-year-old Sands triple jumped 17.29 (wind -0.8) to capture his second gold in this event after the victory in 2003 (17.16).

That year he also earned the bronze medal at the World Championships.

Cuban Héctor Dairon Fuentes, 20, took the lead in the first round with a PB of 17.23 (-1.2), but Sands responded with his 17.29 effort – a season's best and Championship record – in round four. After two fouls and a pass, Fuentes closed with 16.43 and 16.79, while Sands passed his two final jumps. Another Cuban, 22-year old Alexis Copello was third with 16.91.

Also turning in an excellent perfomance was Jamal Wilson in the high jump with a leap of 2.13m.

With these performances The Bahamas is assured of several medals during the Olympics.

Also making a mark at the CAC were the 4x400m ladies and men's teams. The women took the bronze medal in a time of 3:35.57 behind Cuba and Mexico.

The men took the silver medal in a time of 3:02.48 beating out Trinidad and Tobago (3:04.12). Cuba took the gold in a time of 3:02.48.