The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

It wasn't what was expected for Donald Thomas and Jamal Wilson as they finished in ties for sixth and ninth respectively in the men's high jump during the first day of competition at the IAAF World Indoor Championships.

Competing as the first two of the five members of Team Bahamas at the championships that will run through Sunday in Birmingham, Great Britain, both cleared the height of 2.20 metres or 7-feet, 2 1/2-inches.

Thomas joined Mksim Nedasekau from Belarus and Yu Wang from China in clearing the same height on their first attempt. But all three failed at their three attempts at 2.25m (7-4 1/2).

As for Wilson, he and both Robbie Grabarz of Great Britain and Tihomir Ivanov of Bulgaria clinched the height on their third and final attempts. However, they all failed at 2.25m (7-4 1/2). The event saw Danil Lysenko pull off the upset in taking the gold with 2.36m (7-8 3/4) over World and Olympic champion Mutaz Essa Barshim of Qatar, who had to settle for the silver with 2.33m (7-7 3/4). Mateusz Przybylko of Germany got the bronze with 2.29m (7-6).

While Thomas was unavailable for comments, Wilson said the environment wasn't the best for a "warm-blooded Bahamian" like himself.

"If you look at the news, this is historically the coldest time in the UK and going into these big meets, preparations is everything," Wilson said. "I can't speak for anybody else, but it stunned my progress for preparation.

"The hardest part was going onto the track and getting ready for the competition. There are a lot of security check points, but it's after that when you have to regain your rhythm. For my situation, especially training at home, it took its toll on me."

Although he's not using it as any excuse, Wilson said they had a very short time in which to jump and his rhythm wasn't there fully and he lost his legs.

"I can't say I'm mad about it. I have to think about what I did, but I have to keep moving forth because we have a whole year ahead of us. I think 2018 is still going to be a beautiful year for track and field with the Commonwealth Games in April in Australia.

"So I can't look at World Indoors anymore. That's the past. I have to get better prepared for the Commonwealth Games. I can't let opportunities like that slip by me much more. The experience was good, but I know I still have a lot more in me."

Team Bahamas, managed by Sandra Laing and coached by Ronald Cartwright, will have two more competitors in action in day two of the four-day championships when the competition continues today.

Devynne Charlton, the only female on the team, will run out of lane eight in the third of five heats of the women's 60m hurdles. She goes in with a personal best of 7.93 seconds and a season's best of 8.05.

Charlton will need to finish in the top four in the heats or post one of the next four fastest losing times in order to advance to the semi-final and final on day three on Saturday.

And also today, Alonzo Russell will run out of lane four in the third of six heats of the men's 400m. Russell's lifetime best going into the event is 46.38, the same as his season's best.

However, the Grand Bahamian will have to finish as one of the first two finishers in each heat or the next six fastest losers for the semi-final on the same day. The final will be contested on the third day of competition on Saturday.

The final team member for the Bahamas will compete on Saturday as well. Sprinter Warren Fraser will have a busy day as he is expected to run in the heats, semi-finals and final of the men's 60m, if he advances straight through.

The championships close out on Sunday, but the Bahamas won't have any competitors in action on the final day.