The Caribbean duo of Tabarie Henry and Demetrius Pinder has a lot in common. They both run the 400m and they are teammates at Texas A&M University.

Demetrius Pinder, left, takes the baton from Tabarie Henry at the Penn Relays.

Not surprisingly, they both have big performances as a goal for this year’s World Championships in Daegu, South Korea.

At the recent Penn Relays, Henry a native of the US Virgin Islands, and Pinder, a Bahamian, helped A&M to win the men’s 4x400m. After the race, this pair of Caribbean one-lap aces itemized their 2011 goals.  

Fourth in the 400m in the 2009 World Championships, Henry said, “I just want to finish my collegiate season hard and get ready for Daegu and try to bring home a medal for my island.

“This year, I’m trying to repeat what I did”, he said assertively. “I’m still young”, said the 23-year-old. “I know I’m not guaranteed a medal but I just want to make the final and put my country out there.”

“I’m doing the same”, said the 22-year-old Pinder. “I’m just going out there and continue running fast and doing what I gotta do all the time”, he said.

While Henry should be a shoo-in for the USVI team, a strong group stands between Pinder and the Bahamian squad to Daegu. Undaunted, he thinks he has a good chance. “There should be a place on the team for me. I just gotta go out there and prove myself.”

The soft-spoken Pinder proved himself at the 2010 Bahamian Championships. “Last year I won the Trials”, he recalled, “so I’m going to go out there and try to continue to strive for the best for me and try to win again.”

After winning the Nationals, Pinder placed third in the NACAC Under-23 400m and boosted his country to second in the 4x400 relay.  

Before they reach Daegu, Pinder and Henry will attempt to improve on their respective 2010 6th and 8th place finishes at the NCAA Championships. Those performances and a big 4x4 win helped Texas A&M to the team title. Earlier this year, Pinder set a Bahamian record – 45.33secs – to win the NCAA Indoor Championships.

Pinder and Henry should be in action at the NCAA Regionals later this month and the NCAA Championships early in June.