Gonz misses out
Published:Wednesday | August 31, 2011 | 12:00 AM
- Jamaican places fourth in 400m final
DAEGU, South Korea:
"I know that the fans wanted medals and I was not able to deliver, I am sorry."
Jermaine Gonzales came close, but in the end, the weeks and months missed in background training showed over the last 50 metres, as the national 400m record holder faded out of a medal position in the final at the IAAF World Championships in Athletics inside the Daegu Stadium in South Korea yesterday.
Gonzales finished fourth in 44.99, as Belgium's Kevin Borlee, 44.90, showed better strength at the death to steal the bronze medal from the lanky Jamaican.
"I know that I have missed a lot of background training because of the injury and I am not as strong as I need to be in the final 40m, and to go three rounds in three days is always gong to be difficult for me," Gonzales said, before adding that running out of lane three also didn't make the situation any easier for him.
"When I got the lane draw and realised that I was in lane three, I knew it was always going to be tough," said Gonzales. "I am 6'3", running a lot of tight curves that's always going to affect me, and so I think I came up short because of the lane today."
He added: "I went out as hard as possible because I knew I had to make up and do some catching up on the backstretch, and I think I did that, but unfortunately, I didn't manage to come off the last corner fast enough and got left," Gonzales said.
Satisfaction expressed
Despite finishing outside the medal positions, Gonz, as he is also called, expressed satisfaction with his effort.
"Personally, I'm really pleased with my season. All I can say is that I tried my best and, hopefully, next time I can make everybody happy.
"The season has been great. When I started I never expected to be here so I have to give thanks for what I have achieved nonetheless," Gonzales noted.
The race was won by Grenadian Kirani James, who became the youngest 400m world champion, beating LaShawn Merritt on the line in a personal best 44.60 to the American's 44.63.
Gonzales' result summed up a miserable Day Four for the Jamaicans, whose medal tally remains on two.
Kimberly Williams, the only Jamaican in action in the morning session, posted a personal best 14.06m in the women's triple jump, but failed to move on to the final.
There will be no Jamaican representation in the men's 400m hurdles final, as the trio of Leford Green, Isa Phillips and Josef Robertson all failed to make progress.
Green was fourth in his semi-final in 49.29, while Robertson finished last in 50.39.
Phillips missed yet another final after running fourth in his semi-final, in 49.16.
There was more joy for the Jamaicans in the women's 400m hurdles, as defending champion Melaine Walker and world leader Kaliese Spencer booked their spots in the final, even though they were made to work harder than they would have liked.
Walker, 54.97, looked uncomfortable in her second and third 100 metres and had to push hard for second place and automatic qualification behind Russian Natalya Antyukh, 54.51.
Spencer, running with an injury, looked shy of her world-beating form this year, struggling to third place in her semi-final with a 55.02 clocking and had to endure a nervous wait before finding out that she was in fact one of the fastest losers.
Young Ristananna Tracey, 18, ended her first senior international championships, finishing fourth in 55.55 but remains extremely proud of her achievement.
"I think I did well," Tracey said after her race. "I'm not disappointed, I tried my best."
Nickiesha Wilson, the 2010 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist, was sixth in her semi-final in 56.58.
Today is virtually a rest day in Daegu, with the 20-kilometre Race Walk being the only event on the card.
The Jamaicans return to action on tomorrow's Day Six with the women 200m heats and semi-finals, women's 800m qualification, 4x400m prelims, as well as the women's 400m hurdles final.