Derrick Atkins

Derrick Atkins (born 5 January 1984) is a Bahamian sprinter.[1] Atkins specializes in the 100 metres event and also holds the national record, with a time of 9.91 seconds. He is the second cousin of former world record holder Asafa Powell.[2]

Not to be confused with Derrick Adkins.

Derrick Atkins
Personal information
Nationality The Bahamas
Born (1984-01-05) 5 January 1984
Jamaica
Height185 cm/6 ft 1 in
Sport
SportRunning
Event(s)100 metres, 200 metres
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)100m: 9.91 s (Osaka 2007)
200m: 20.35 s (Athens 2009)
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing  Bahamas
World Championships
Silver medal – second place 2007 Osaka 100 m
Central American and Caribbean Games
Silver medal – second place 2006 Cartagena 100 m
Silver medal – second place 2006 Cartagena 4×100 m relay
CAC Championships
Silver medal – second place 2008 Cali 4x100 m relay
Bronze medal – third place 2005 Nassau 4x100 m relay
Bronze medal – third place 2009 Havana 4x100 m relay

Atkins is now a head coach for the women's Track and field team at Utah Tech University, formerly known as Dixie State University. [3]

University

While attending Dickinson State University in Dickinson, North Dakota, Atkins was a 3 time National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) national champion in the 100 meter dash, 2 times national champion in the 200 meter dash and also 2 times national champion in the 55m meter dash indoor. He helped lead those DSU track teams to back-to-back national team titles. He was also inducted into the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Hall of fame in Track and field 2013 class.

Career

2005

Atkins participated at the 2005 World Championships but failed to progress past the first round.

With the Bahamian 4 x 100 metres relay team he finished fourth at the 2003 Central American and Caribbean Championships and won a bronze medal at the 2005 Central American and Caribbean Championships.

2006

At the 2006 Central American and Caribbean Games, Atkins won the silver medal,[4] having established a national record of 10.08 seconds during the heats.

2007

On 28 April 2007 in Berkeley, California, Atkins again lowered the national record, to 9.98 seconds. He also ran 9.86 s and 9.83 s, though with tail winds of 2.3 and 2.4 m/s.[5]

On 26 August 2007 at the 2007 World Championships, Atkins came second with a national record time of 9.91s (wind speed -0.5 m/s). The event was won by Tyson Gay who ran 9.85 s. Atkins beat the world record holder and favorite for the event, Asafa Powell who ran 9.96 seconds.

2008

Atkins represented the Bahamas at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing where he competed at the 100 metres sprint and placed 1st in his heat in a time of 10.28 seconds in front of Andrey Yepishin and Jaysuma Saidy Ndure. In the second round he improved his time to 10.14 seconds, finishing third in his heat behind Asafa Powell and Walter Dix, qualifying for the semi-finals. There a 10.13 seconds race was unable to bring him in the final, finishing in sixth place of his semi final.[1]

2012

Atkins represented the Bahamas at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London where he competed at the 100 metres sprint and placed 4th in his semi finals in a time of 10.08.[6]

2013

Derrick Atkins was inducted in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics NAIA Hall of fame,[7] His College career includes 3 Team National Track and field Championships, 7 time individual National champion, 15 National NAIA All-American Honors, 9 times DAC-10 All Conference Honors and Dickinson State University Male Athlete of the year.

References
  1. "Athlete biography: Derrick Atkins". Beijing2008.cn. Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games. Archived from the original on 6 September 2008. Retrieved 26 August 2008.
  2. Powell, David (8 August 2009). Focus on Athletes - Derrick Atkins. IAAF. Retrieved 17 July 2009.
  3. "Dixie State Names Derrick Atkins New Head Women's Track and Field Coach". Dixiestateathletics. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  4. 2006 Central American and Caribbean Games official results - men's 100 metres final
  5. Gordon, Ed (29 April 2007). "9.98 for unheralded Atkins in Berkeley". IAAF.org. Retrieved 30 April 2007.
  6. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Derrick Atkins". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020.
  7. "HOF". NAIA. Retrieved 4 September 2013.
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