The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

DOHA, Qatar — Grand Bahamian Alonzo Russell, taking time off from his studies at Florida State University, will take the fifth place finish in his preliminary round of the men’s 400 metres at the International Amateur Athletic Federation’s 17th World Championships.

The first of two Bahamians entered in the event on day five of the championships yesterday at the Khalifa International Stadium, Russell came through in a time of 45.91 seconds in the fourth of six heats. American Michael Norman, the world’s leader at 43.45 this year, posted the winning time of 45.00.

Russell, 27, just missed the cut for the semi-final, finishing 25th overall, but the sixth and final six fastest losers was Steven Solomon of Australia, who ran 45.82 in heat two.

Incidentally, two automatic qualifiers - Philip Osei of Canada and Anthony Zambrano of Colombia came in 24th and 26th respectively.

With any chance of qualifying, Russell would have needed at least his season’s best of 45.28 to advance.

Despite not achieving it, he was still pleased to be here competing in an individual event as opposed to just focusing on the men’s 4 x 400m relay, in which the Bahamas has not qualified to compete in.

“It was a good run. It’s been a long season,” Russell summed up. “I gave it all I can. I can’t feel bad about my performance. To be doing school and training, it’s been hard trying to juggle the two. It’s been a lil tough, but I’m working on it.”

Russell was hoping to join Steven Gardiner in the semis after he won heat five in 45.68 for 18th place overall.

“This was one of those seasons where I have to concentrate on school and training,” said Russell, who is in his post-graduate studies. “It’s been a bit tough juggling the two, but I’m working on it. I just hope for the best. The experience (here) was pretty good.”

Normally in the global meet with his concentration on running on the men’s 4 x 400m relay team, Russell said without one qualified to compete here, it was a little strange for him having to just focus on running the individual race.

“I felt it definitely could have been better,” he reflected. “I kind of gauged it pretty bad. I haven’t ran out of lane two for a while. So I felt I could have ran the first 150m a little harder and put myself in the race a little more.

“I finished strong, but if I had ran a little harder in the beginning, I felt I could have done better.”

And having to face one of the top contenders in Norman for this year’s title, he didn’t make the one-lap race any easier for Russell.

“He was in lane six, so I was focused more on the guys on the inside and try to match them,” he said. “But it happens.”

Now that he’s done and gets an individual global race under his belt, Russell said he will definitely be back for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.