(Story written and edited by Roger Hasfal in Qatar, and posted by Dwight Fraser)
History was created today when Tajay Gayle struck gold to secure Jamaica’s first ever first place finish in the men’s long jump on today’s second day of the IAAF World Championships in Doha Qatar.
While temperatures reached 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) outside the Khalifa Stadium, inside, athletes competed in the air conditioned comfort of the futuristic venue where the thermometer hovered pleasantly in the mid-20s.
It was where Gayle defied all the odds while produced a monstrous effort nailing a new national record of 8.69 meters bettering James Beckford 24 year old mark.
Gayle leapt into the history books when he produced a sparkling effort to stun the field with the 10th longest jump of all time.
Gayle who barely scraped into the final put pressure on the field by leaping 8.46 meters with his very first jump. He held on to the lead right through and with his final jump he sensationally knocked the wind out of his opponents with his leap of 8.69 meters.
Gayle he held off American Jeff Henderson 8.39 and Cuba’s Juan Manuel Echevarria 8.34 meters and was naturally elevated afterwards.
2011 champion Yohan Blake meanwhile had to settle for 5th place in the men’s 100 meters final with a time of 9.97 seconds. The event won by American Christian Coleman in a new personal best 9.76 seconds as he turned the tables on defending champion Justin Gatlin who clocked 9.89 seconds
earlier three time world champion shelly Ann Fraser Pryce with her waist-length bright yellow hair flowing behind her, looked supreme as she strolled home ahead of the field in the very first heat in the women’s 100 meters clocking 10.81 seconds which was deemed the fastest ever first round race in the history of the championships.
She was then joined by Olympic champion Elaine Thompson who recovered from an early struggle to win heat three in 11.15 seconds.
Jonelle Smith a late replacement for Brianna Williams finished strongly for third place in heat four in 11.20 seconds behind Britain’s Dina Asher smith 10,96 seconds.
Fredrick Dacres three down the Gauntlett with his very first throw sending the implement at 65.44 meters and top his qualifying group and moving into tomorrow’s final.
Travis Smikle 62.93 meters and chad wright 60.60 meters had good efforts but both failed to advance to the final
Pan am champion Notoya Goule progressed to the final of the women’s 800 meters with the 7th fastest time of 2 minutes 00.33 seconds after she added to fourth into her heat when she was put off her stride by race winner Haliham Nakaayi who ran 1 minute 59.35
Kemar Mowatt also failed to make progress o the final of the men’s 400 meters after fading to 7th in semifinal one.
Jamaica’s quartet of Nathon Allen, Jenieve Russell, Ronesha Mcgregor and Javon francis secured their spot in tomorrow’s mixed relays 4×400 meters after finishing second in heat one in 3 minutes 12.73 seconds behind race winner United States.