Photo: 20 year old Shericka Jackson will be hunting a medal in her first World Championships when she contests the final on Wednesday.
Jamaica’s historic performances at the 15th IAAF World Athletics Championships in Beijing, China, continued unabated on Tuesday, even though no medals were garnered by the athletes of the tiny Caribbean Island. Four women contested the semi-finals of the 400m and they all progressed to the final, a first for Jamaica.
In semi-final one, national champion Christine Day ran 50.82 for second behind gold medal favourite Shaunae Miller of the Bahamas who won in 50.12. Commonwealth champion Stephenie-Ann McPherson was also second in her semi-final in 50.32 after a late surge by defending champion Christine Ohuruogu saw the Briton cross the line in 50.16. In the third semi-final, Allyson Felix, also a gold medak favourite, ran a season’s best 49.89 to finish ahead of the two Jamaicans Shericka Jackson (50.03) and Novlene Williams-Mills (50.47) in the fastest of the three semi-finals.
The 50.03 run by Jackson was not only a personal best by the 20 year old, but also the fastest run by a Jamaican this year. The University of Technology student has run faster with each round and looks the best bet to grab a medal for Jamaica in what is expected to be a blockbuster of a final on Thursday.
The other Jamaicans in the race cannot be discounted however as McPherson has shown her pedigree by winning gold at the Commonwealth Games, Day has shown her warrior spirit by winning her first national title this year and Williams-Mills has already won bronze at the World Championships in 2007.
The heats of the Men’s 200m were also contested today with four Jamaicans advancing to the semi-final round. First up was defending champion Usain Bolt who barely shifted out of second gear, as he coasted home in 20.28 in heat 3. Nickel Ashmeade had to work harder than the champion, qualifying with the slowest time going into the semis with 20.40 after he finished third in heat 4, behind the USA’s Justin Gatlin, 20.19, and Abdul Sani Brown of Japan in 20.35.
Julian Forte who ran 20.16 was nipped on the line by Zharnel Hughes of Great Britain 20.13 as both men advanced from heat 5. Hughes, a former Kingston College student, trains with Usain Bolt at the Racers Track Club in Jamaica. Olympic bronze medalist Warren Weir was also second in his heat as he slowed down at the line to finish in 20.24 behind Likourgos Tsakonas (20.14). The semi-finals will be run on Wednesday beginning at 7:30am (local time) just over an hour after the women begin their 200m quest for gold.
Jamaica’s medal quest continues on Wednesday when Kaliese Spencer and Janieve Russell face the starter in the Women’s 400m hurdles final at 7:10am
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