BEIJING, China, CMC – The Bahamas won its first medal of the 15th IAAF World Championships when Jeffery Gibson took bronze in the 400 metres hurdles on Tuesday.
It was the only medal for the Caribbean on a shortened day of competition which included domination by Kenyan runners.
Gibson set a new Bahamas record of 48.17 seconds to claim the bronze medal behind surprised winner Nicholas Bett of Kenya and Russian Denis Kudryavtsev. Bett’s winning time of 47.79 is a world lead while Kudryavtsev also set a new Russian record.
It has been a spectacular season for Gibson who has now lowered the national record four times within six weeks.
He has recorded times of 48.77 in Luzern, Switzerland on July 14, 48.51 to win the gold at the Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada on July 23 and twice at the World Championships in Beijing including 48.37 in the semi-finals on Sunday.
“The medal is great achievement but I take it as the next stepping stone towards the future,” he said.
“I know I can perform much better, there were a couple of things I have to work on and I am looking forward to more races and more training for the Olympic season.”
Shericka Jackson led a quartet of Jamaicans advancing to the women’s 400m final tomorrow.
Jackson had the second fastest qualifying time and personal best of 50.03, behind American Allyson Felix (49.89).
The former world junior and youth champion Shaunae Miller of the Bahamas also qualifies with 50.12.
Stephenie Ann McPherson (50.32), Novlene Williams-Mills (50.47) and Christine Day (50.82) are the other Jamaicans who will line up in the final which will also include Great Britain’s reigning world champion Christine Ohuruogu (50.16) and American Phyllis Francis (50.50).
“This is my first World Championships so I am very grateful I made it to the final,” said Jackson.
“I tried to catch up with Allyson Felix from the beginning. My coach told me to do my best to get there and the personal best is a great result.”
