Jamaica’s Danniel Thomas-Dodd claimed silver while Elaine Thompson came up empty on a drama second day, full of disqualifications for lane violations and false starts at the 2018 IAAF World Indoor Championships in Birmingham, UK.
Thomas-Dood won the silver with a National Record 19.22m (63 feet) throw in the women’s shot put.
Thomas-Dodd became the first Jamaican woman to medal in the event, which went to Anita Marton of Hungry with a world leading mark of 19.62m.
“I got beaten in the last outdoor season, and I was down a little bit, but that drove me to perform the way I really did this time around,” said Thomas-Dodd.
“It feels good because it just goes to show that Jamaica is not just a sprint country,” she added.
However, there was no luck on the day for top sprinter Elaine Thompson, who just missed the podium place finish. She was fourth in the women’s 60m with 7.08m, while compatriot Remona Burchell, placed 8th in 7.50secs.
Gayon Evans, the other Jamaican who entered in the morning session, did not start in the semi-finals.
Ivory Coast took 1-2 as Murielle Ahoure claimed the nation’s first global title in the event with a world leading and national record 6.97 ahead of Marie -Jose Ta Lou, 7.05, also a personal best mark.
In the men’s 400m, perhaps the meet’s most controversy-plagued-event from the heats to the final, world leader and favorite Bralon Taplin of Grenada was dq’ed after Abdalelah Haroun of Qatar was red carded for false starting, then the remaining athletes were all convicted of lane infringements.
Jamaican Steven Gayle and Bahamian Alonzo Russell were also in that heat.
Aisha Praught of Jamaica qualified for the women’s 1500m final with 4:07.51.
Stephenie McPherson, who won her 400m semi-final in 52.27, was later disqualified in the women’s 400m.
Tovea Jenkins, however, made sure Jamaica will be represented in the final with 52.42 for second in her semis.
The men’s 400m event also saw Jamaica’s Javon Francis, 46.73 and Trinidad and Tobago’s Asa Guevara, 46.91 bowing out at the semi-final stage.
Deon Lendore, 46.33secs, however, will be the only man from the English Speaking Caribbean in the final.
Kemoy Campbell, Jamaica’s lone representative in the men’s 3,000m, was also disqualified in the heats.
