Keyshawn Strachan may not be traveling to the Olympics, but he is going to Nebraska.
The Bahamian national record holder in the men’s javelin has chosen the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Cornhuskers of the Big Ten Conference, adding to the institution’s already strong Bahamian presence and following in the footsteps of women’s national record holder Rhema Otabor.
Strachan hopes to follow Otabor’s footsteps and become a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I champion as well. Otabor won consecutive NCAA championships in her junior and senior years, breaking the NCAA record.
Strachan anticipates the same improvement under Justin St. Clair, the Cornhuskers’ Head Coach of Athletics.
“This is an excellent chance for Keyshawn, and I am convinced that he will not pass it up. Strachan’s coach in The Bahamas, Corrington Maycock of Air Assault and Blue Chip Athletics, stated, “I’m very confident that he will excel.” “This is an excellent chance for him and Nebraska. He now has a coach who will be able to manage his progress and provide him with all he needs to advance to the next level.”
Strachan, 20, had a personal best throw of 84.27 meters (276′ 5″) at the start of the 2023 season, but suffered an elbow injury and hasn’t thrown 80 meters (262′ 5″) since. The powerful and skilled Bahamian anticipates being near to full strength before the start of the 2025 outdoor season.
“I am pleased with the move. “It’s a good school with a strong javelin program,” Strachan remarked. “I enjoyed my time at Auburn, but I felt it was time to attempt a new system. I watched what Coach St. Clair did with Rhema, and I believe he can do the same with me.”
Strachan attended Auburn University for two years before using the transfer portal following the 2024 season. He got several offers, but chose Nebraska due in major part to the school’s Bahamian connection. Otabor has recently graduated, and the incoming Class of 2025 will include junior talents Dior-Rae Scott and Taysha Stubbs, both CARIFTA gold medalists from The Bahamas.
“They (Nebraska) were always a top option for me,” Strachan explained. “When I saw what Coach St. Clair was generating, it was a no-brainer for me. I intend to advance based on the training and effort I will put in. The basic goal is to become healthy.
My goal for next year’s global championships is to win a gold medal. I feel that if I put in the effort, I can do great things.
Strachan is expected to be closer to the 85-86m mark next season, eventually reaching the 90m (295′ 3”) plateau.
“Keyshawn’s ceiling could be 90 meters or possibly higher. “He’s got it,” Maycock added. “He just needs to stay focused and keep working hard.” I have no doubt that he might go far with St. Clair.”
Strachan was named an All-American for the Auburn University Tigers this season after coming fifth at the NCAA Division I Championships in Eugene, Oregon, in June with a best throw of 74.95m (245′ 11″). His season’s best throw was 76.25m (250′ 2″), still short of his huge personal best of 84.27m.
Strachan surrounded himself with the best throwers in the NCAA system this season, producing three top-three finishes. He won the Pepsi Florida Relays in Gainesville, Florida, in late March, and finished third at the Tom Jones Memorial in Gainesville in April, as well as the NCAA Division I East Regionals in May.
Strachan’s primary goal for the 2025 season is to qualify for the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan.
He maintains his good attitude and is determined to succeed in track and field.
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