{{short description|Bahamian hurdler}} {{Infobox sportsperson | image = | imagesize = | caption = | nationality = | sport = Track and field |disability = |disability_class = | event = | club = | coach = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1985|4|30|df=y}} | birth_place = Nassau, Bahamas | death_date = | death_place = | retired= | height = | weight = | pb = | medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry|{{flagu|Bahamas}}}} {{MedalCompetition|Central American and Caribbean Championships in Athletics}} {{MedalGold | 2008 Cali | 100 m hurdles}} {{MedalSilver | 2008 Cali | 4x100 m relay}} {{Medal|Competition|World Junior Championships}} {{Medal|Bronze | 2002 Kingston | 110 m hurdles}} {{Medal|Competition|CAC Junior Championships (U20)}} {{Medal|Silver |2002 Bridgetown | 110 m hurdles}} {{Medal|Competition|CARIFTA Games <br> Junior (U20)}} {{Medal|Gold |2002 Nassau | 110 m hurdles}} {{Medal|Silver |2003 Port of Spain | 110 m hurdles}} {{Medal|Bronze |2003 Port of Spain | 4x100 m relay}} {{Medal|Competition|CARIFTA Games <br> Youth (U17)}} {{Medal|Silver |2001 Bridgetown | 100 m hurdles}} }}
'''Shamar Sands''' (born 30 April 1985) is a Bahamian track and field athlete who specialises in the 110 metres hurdles. He is the Bahamian national record holder in the event with 13.40 seconds.<ref name=Osaka>Nakamura, Ken (2009-05-09). [http://www.iaaf.org/GP09/news/kind=100/newsid=50494.html ‘07 World champs Wariner, Clement and Thomas win again in Osaka – IAAF World Athletics Tour]. IAAF. Retrieved on 2009-05-10.</ref> Sands is the cousin of triple jumper Leevan Sands and also has a degree in accounting.<ref>Shumack, Kimberly (21-02-05). [http://auburntigers.cstv.com/sports/c-track/spec-rel/022105aaa.html Q & A with Auburn Track and Field Athlete Shamar Sands]. Auburn Athletes. Retrieved on 2009-05-10.</ref>
Sands made his first appearance at a major tournament in 2001, competing at the World Youth Championships in Athletics. He reached the semi-finals of 110 m hurdles but finished with a disappointing 14.36 seconds, over half a second slower than the personal best he had set the previous day. He performed well in the 2002 World Junior Championships, taking the bronze medal in the 110 m hurdles (91.4 cm) event, setting a personal best of 13.67 seconds with a strong tail wind.<ref name=Profile>{{World Athletics}}. Retrieved on 2009-05-10.</ref><ref>[http://www2.iaaf.org/WJC02/news/getnews.asp?Event=WJC02&Code=5461&Kind=4&SubKind=&Imgh=searchnews Men 110 metres Hurdles Final]. IAAF. Retrieved on 2009-05-11.</ref>
His first major senior tournament came in 2007: although he had improved his best to 13.47 seconds that summer, he failed to progress beyond the heats at the Osaka World Championships. The following year he attended his first major indoor tournament, but did not get past the heats, recording a sub-par 7.97 seconds in the 60 metre hurdles at the 2008 World Indoor Championships. He qualified to represent his country at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and reached the quarter-finals.<ref name=Profile/>
The 2009 season began with significant improvements for Sands. He registered a 60 m hurdles best of 7.49 seconds in the indoor season and set the national record in the 110 m hurdles at the 2009 Osaka Grand Prix.<ref name=Profile/> He was pleased with both the achievement and winning the race, which he had done despite hitting two of the hurdles.<ref name=Osaka/>
Sands was coached most of his professional career by Henry Rolle.
==Personal bests== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Event ! Best ! Location ! Date |- | 50 m hurdles | 6.40 s | Liévin, France | 10 February 2009 |- | 55 m hurdles | 7.17 s | Gainesville, Florida, United States | 27 January 2007 |- | 60 m hurdles | 7.49 s | Liévin, France | 2 February 2009 |- | 110 m hurdles | 13.38 s | Ostrava, Czech Republic | 17 June 2009 |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{sports links}} *[http://auburntigers.cstv.com/sports/c-track/spec-rel/022105aaa.html Q & A with Auburn Tigers]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Sands, Shamar}} Category:1985 births Category:Living people Category:Athletes from Nassau, Bahamas Category:Bahamian men hurdlers Category:21st-century Bahamian sportsmen Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2007 Pan American Games Category:Olympic athletes for the Bahamas Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2008 Summer Olympics Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2012 Summer Olympics Category:Auburn Tigers men's track and field athletes Category:Auburn University alumni