The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

MOSCOW, Russia — One thing about Donald Thomas. When he needs to come through with a big clearance, he has consistently found a way to do it.

On Tuesday morning with a spot on the line for the final on Thursday, Thomas soared over the bar at 2.26 metres or 7-feet, 5-inches, jumped up in the air with his right fist clenched as he nailed his third and final attempt at that height. He came back and proved that it was no fluke as he soared 2.29m (7-6) to stamp his passport as the third qualifier out of Group A and fifth overall with Group B combined as he was joined by Ryan Ingraham as another Bahamian duo for the second consecutive global championship.

“It’s just a blessing. Thank God I was able to travel safely here and come out here and perform,” said Thomas about his appearance in the Luzhniki Grand Sports Complex. “It’s been a tough year for me. I was plagued with an injury early in the season, I rehabbed it and I just came out here and put my best foot forward.”

At 2.26m, Thomas admitted that he was a bit concerned when he had to stop mid-way in his approach. “I didn’t know why I was struggling at this low bar,” he said. “I had a little hiccup in my run-up. The turn over didn’t feel right. So I had to turn around, go back and get mentally prepared to get over the stick.”

Having nailed the jump to go on back into the final, Thomas said he can feel a little more relieved because half of his mission is done. “I just want to go out there and represent the Bahamas to the fullest,” he stated. “Once I perform at my best and put my best foot forward, everything should be good.”

Looking at the field, which includes Bohdan Bondarenko from Ukraine, who posted a personal best with a world-leading mark of 2.41m (7-10 3/4) on June 4, Thomas said he’s not concerned at all.

“I really don’t focus on those guys. I just go out there and focus on me,” he said. “In the jumping competition, it’s only you, the bar and your coach. I don’t even know who is in the final.”

He knows that Ingraham is there, replacing the injured Trevor Barry, who won a bronze at the 2011 championships in Daegu, South Korea, and that’s all that really matters.

“He’s a good dude,” Thomas said. “He’s a good jumper, young and up and coming, so me and him will get some good exposure and hopefully make the Bahamas proud.”

Going into the final, Thomas has compiled an impressive r�sum� since bursting on the scene as a basketball player who only took the event up on a dare while in college. He hopes to improve on his list of achievements that include:

11th IAAF World Championship champion - 2009 in Osaka, Japan

5th IAAF World Athletic Final champion - 2007 in Stuttgart, Germany

Commonwealth Games champion - 2010 in Delhi, India

Pan American Games champion - 2011 in Guadalajara, Mexico

Pan American Games runner-up - 2007 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

CAC Games champion - 2010 in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico

Continental Cup runner-up - 2010 in Split, Croatia

Two-time Olympian - 14th in 1st round in London, England in 2012 and

12th in 1st round in Beijing, China in 2008