Russian Runnings –‘Priceless’ Shelly
The Pocket Rocket claimed majestically gold at the Luzhniki Stadium on August 12, a day which started ominously with a bleak sky and somewhat chilly winds. But as the morning progressed, the sun advanced quickly taking control of the weather and determining its course.
It was no different in the women’s 100m final save that Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce brought gale-force winds leaving in her wake an impressive field of athletes.
The semifinals for both Fraser-Pryce and Kerron Stewart in the afternoon were routine qualifiers and signaled to all that it would be “business unusual”.
In the final, the explosion came from lane four with a reaction time of 0.174 and once Fraser-Pryce was in the driving phase the gold was packaged and thereafter decisively sealed in 10.71. Murielle Ahoure of the Ivory Coast led home Carmelita Jeter with 10.93 for silver, to the American’s 10.94 for bronze.
Stewart was left in the blocks emerging in a reaction time of 0.229 but ran on valiantly for fifth in 10.97 ahead of pre-race favourite Nigerian Okagbare Blessing sixth in 11.04 who trailed fourth place finisher English Gardner of the USA who clocked 10.97 also.
A scintillating run by Fraser-Pryce provided the catalyst for Jamaica mania in the stadium and a lap of honour brought tributes in words and expressions from Russians and citizens of the world.
It was a redemptive end to a day’s competition which was somewhat disappointing starting with Kaliese Spencer who won heat one comfortably in the women’s 400m hurdles but was later disqualified for reportedly negotiating the first hurdle with the trail leg going around same.
Her teammates Nickiesha Wilson, fourth in heat two in 55.75, and Ristanana Tracey, fifth in heat three in 55.94, qualified for the semi-final but will find the going tough in transitioning.
The men’s prospects are better. Annsert Whyte started our campaign in heat three and looked relatively comfortable with a 49.63 third place clocking. Leford Green then took the track in lane three and was a competent second place finisher at a 49,45 and Isa Phillip was similarly placed in heat 4 in a time of 49.57
Patriotic cheers were tremendous for Andrew Riley in the final of the Men’s 110 metres hurdles as we looked to him to deliver in the absence of Hancel Parchment whose quest for glory ended with a fall to the chevron in the semi-final as he challenged for leadership. Riley was the first out of the blocks with a reaction time of 0.138 and was in contention for a birth in the final when misfortune struck. He hit the penultimate hurdle, stumbled, could not regain his rhythm and was the last traveler to report.
Regrettably, Javon Francis, Omar Johnson and Javere Bell will not report for the final of the Men’s 400 metres final having failed in their bids to re-create the glory of 1948 and 1952. With respective times of 45.62, 45.89 and 45.77 the terrain was too rugged and unfriendly.
The Women’s 400m final saw the admirable Novlene Wiliiams-Mills and Stephanie McPherson in lane one and two respectively, courses which are never really the dream of finalists but which are the reality of a 400 metre track.
Williams-Mills never got into her rhythm from the inception while McPherson ran a clinical race and fought bravely to the line in fourth position in 49.99. We saluted her on the brilliance of her maiden voyage in an international
championship.
A resilient Williams-Mills, who completed the journey last in will not be daunted by this uncharacteristic experience. She will rise again and establish another milestone in the annals of the history of track and field in Jamaica.
Britain’s Christine Ohuruogu leaned desperately from behind Bostwana’s Amantle Montsho to claim gold in 49.41 the same time with which Montsho was accredited. Russian, Antonina Krivoshapka, claimed bronze in 49.78.
The avid hunt continues for medals as we look forward particularly to the finals of the men’s and women’s 200m. The spirit in the Jamaican camp is confident and the national colours of patriots, who have made their pilgrimage here, are emblazoned across the landscape of the stadium. Given the temperature and current as well as the extraordinary love, admiration and respect for our brand here in Moscow, “Jamaica to the World” may very well give way to “Jamaica to the Universe”
-Christopher Samuda