DOHA, Qatar, CMC – Bahamian Tynia Gaither will carry the Caribbean’s hopes in today’s women’s 200 metres final, after Jamaicans Elaine Thompson and Shelly-ann Fraser-Pryce both pulled out of the event and the other three runners from the region all failed to qualify.
The 26-year-old Gaither finished second in semi-final two in a time of 22.57 seconds, following home winner Brittany Brown of the United States who clocked 22.46.
Thompson, who missed out on a medal in Sunday’s 100m final, was scheduled to run in the same semi but opted out. There was no official word of injury but some media reports hinted she was suffering from a sore Achilles. Meanwhile, Fraser-Pryce was ordered to sit out the 200m event by her coach, Stephen Francis.
Jamaican Shashalee Forbes (23.14) finished eighth in semi-final one won by American Anglerne Annelus (22.49) while Trinidadian Kamaria Durant (23.44) and Bahamian Anthonique Strachan (25.44) finished seventh and eighth in semi-final three captured by England’s Dina Asher-Smith (22.16).
In the men’s final, the dearth of the medals in the post-Usain Bolt era continued for the Caribbean when Trinidadian Kyle Greaux finished last in 20.39, as American Noah Lyles clinched gold in 19.83 seconds.
The Caribbean was also shut out of the medal spots in last Saturday’s 100 metres as Jamaican Yohan Blake finished a disappointing fifth.
Meanwhile, Olympic champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo of the Bahamas continued her quest for World gold when she led Jamaicans Shericka Jackson (50.10) and Stephenie-Ann McPherson (50.70) into Thursday’s women’s 400m final.
Miller-Uibo was timed at 49.66 in winning semi-final two while Jackson finished third. However, Barbadian Sada Williams missed out when she placed fourth in a personal best 51.31.
McPherson, a bronze medallist in Moscow six years ago, won semi-final three in a season-best time.
