The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

BEIJING, China — Trevor Barry, back on the global stage after an injury last year kept him out of Moscow, Russia, finished the season as the 10th best high jumper in the world this year.

In the final of the men’s high jump at the 15th IAAF World Championships in the Bird’s Nest Stadium, Barry cleared 2.25 metres or 7-feet, 4 1/2-inches to finish behind Donald Thomas, who was sixth with 2.29m (7-6).

“I attempted 2.29 (7-6), but I just couldn’t get it done,” said Barry, who was coming off a silver medal at the Pan American Games last month in Toronto, Canada. “I was very far away from it.”

The 32-year-old, back in action at the global level after missing the last championship in Moscow, Russia in 2013, was hoping to regain his form that enabled him to clinch the bronze in 2011 in Daegu.

But after he struggled, he sat through the rest of the competition that went down to a jump off between the top three competitors for the medal positions. Derek Drouin won the gold with 2.34m (7-8) and defending champion Bohdan Bondarenko of the Ukraine and China’s colourful Guowel Zhang were tied for the silver at 2.33m (7-7 3/4).

Winning the silver medal at the Pan American Games before he came to Beijing to compete, Barry said the competition was just as keenly contested as it was before he took the break.

“The competition was there. The winning height was attainable,” Barry said. “I think I could have done. The surface was wet, but I don’t want to complain. I was a little hesitant before I jumped. So that kind of threw me off. But congratulations to the guys who won.”

A disappointed Barry said he has no one but himself to blame.

“It’s a manageable height. It’s nothing extreme,” he said. “That’s what makes it even more hurtful. But nonetheless, it’s the World Championship. I came back from an injury and I give thanks to God for allowing me to compete.”

And with Thomas out there to compete with, Barry said it made a whole lot of difference.

“It’s always good to have a fellow countryman out there,” he said. “Two is better than one. We try to attain the same goal, to bring a medal to the country. That’s always the goal.”

Having fallen short of his goal, Barry said he will now shut down the rest of his season and start to prepare for the IAAF World Championships in March before he gets set to do it all again at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in the summer.

“My health is paramount,” said Barry, whose coach Keith Parker was in the Bird’s Nest assisting him.

“Being injury free is the key to the sport. I’m getting older so it takes a little longer (to heal). So taking care of your body is the main thing.”

After missing the last championship because of an injury, Barry said he’s more cautious than anything else.