The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

SOPOT, Poland — Tag her at 14th in the world.

As the Bahamas closed out competition at the three-day meet, Sheniqua ‘Q’ Ferguson left the International Amateur Athletic Federation’s 15th World Indoor Championships with a fifth place finish in the first of three heats of the women’s 60 metres semifinal on Sunday.

She matched her season’s best of 7.25 seconds that she ran on Saturday for 14th as well in the first round. But she took comfort in the fact that she had an opportunity to compete against some of the best sprinters in the world and she made an impression.

“I feel really good because it was a better race than yesterday,” said Ferguson of her performance.

“So I’m happy with my performance. I really wanted to make it to the final, but I can’t be mad with a season’s best. “I’m going in outdoors and I know where I’m at and what shape I’m in, so right now it’s just getting ready for outdoors, so I’m pretty happy.”

Her performance came a day after the Bahamas produced back-to-back bronze and silver medals from Shaunae Miller and Chris ‘Fireman’ Brown in the women’s and men’s 400 metres on Saturday night.

The Bahamas was hoping to come out of the championships with at least three medals, but the men’s 4 x 400 metre relay team of Ramon Miller, Michael Mathieu, Andretti Bain and LaToy Williams didn’t advance to the final with their fourth place in 3:09.79 for eighth overall.

And neither Donald Thomas or Ryan Ingraham got into the men’s high jump.

As for Ferguson, she admitted that the competition was really stiff and she did as best as she could.

“I knew that the girls were running very fast,” she said. “So I’m happy with it. I went out there and I ran as fast as I could. I’m happy with it. My number one goal here was to compete and leave healthy.

“I can now go back to Auburn and get in some work and get ready for the outdoor season. With this being my first indoor championship, I learnt a whole lot about the competition and I know that I will get a chance to compete at this meet again.”

Winning the gold medal on Sunday was Jamaican Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in a world leading time of 6.98. The silver went to Murietlle Ahoure in 7.01 and the bronze to American Tianna Bartoletta in 7.06, both season best times.

Also on Saturday, Warren Fraser made his World Indoor Championship debut with a fifth place finish in his heat in 6.59 for a two-way tie for ninth overall. He just missed out on the eighth spot in the final that went to Dwain Chambers of Great Britain. Chambers held off Fraser for fourth in their heat in 6.58.

“It was good, but not good enough to get into the final,” said Fraser about his performance. “I stopped thinking. My eyes were closed for most of the way. I felt I was getting a lot of explosive, but coming into the last metre at the line, I just leaned for it a little and lost a split second. Other than that, I’m happy with my performance. I could have easily been in the final, but I came up short. It was still a pretty good performance if you ask me.”

That one mistake caused Fraser from getting into the final and earning a portion of the $2.5 million that the IAAF was giving out in cash prizes.

Fraser, now based in Tallahassee, Florida, said he will use this experience to further his professional career. “I remember when I was struggling once upon a time, but now on his worse day, I can come out and make it to the semifinal at the World Indoors. My mind set has basically changed,” he said.

“My focus is getting to the top. I’m not just concerned about making it. I want to be able to compete for a title. Hopefully I will get there. This is a good indication of where I’m at and what I need to work on.”

Richard Kilty of Great Britain came out victorious as the 60m champion in a personal best of 6.49 on Saturday night.