The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

DOHA, Qatar — Although she turned it around and had a great finish, it wasn’t enough to get Grand Bahamian native Tynia Gaither into the final of the women’s 100 metres on day three of the International Amateur Athletic Federation’s 17th World Championships.

Compared to her great start in running 11.24 seconds for fourth place in her preliminary round on day two on Saturday at the Khalifa International Stadium, Gaither got left in the blocks and tried to make up the difference down the stretch, only to fall short in a fifth place in the first of the three semis in 11.20. That placed her fifth and 13th overall, shy of the eight spots that advanced to the final, three of whom came out of her heat.

Ivory Coast’s Marie-Josee Ta Lou took the third fastest qualifying time in winning the heat in 10.87.

Jamaica’s Olympic champion Elaine Thompson followed with second place in 11.00 for the fourth spot and American Teshna Daniels went in with the eighth and final spot after she got third in 11.10.

Jamaica’s three-time champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce posted the fastest qualifying time of 10.81.

Fraser-Pryce, back at full strength since having a baby, electrified the Jamaican fans by clinching her fourth world title in an impressive world leading time of 10.71. Dina Asher-Smith got the silver in a British national record of 10.83 and Ta Lou picked up the bronze in 10.90. Thompson was left off the medal dais with fourth in 10.93.

Despite not advancing, the 26-year-old Gaither declared that she won’t let the disappointment get to her because she has to come right back on Monday (today) to run in the qualifying round of her speciality in the 200m.

“My start wasn’t there. I was really flat,” said Gaither, who acknowledged that she’s still learning how to run the century, an event she has ran at the championships for the first time as she competes in the sprint double at her first global international meet.

“I just didn’t put the pieces together. I felt like my finish was a bit better than yesterday, but my start wasn’t. I’m still learning the 100m. It (200m) has been my better race for years, but the 100m is getting better. I’m still learning the 100m.”

Today at 10:32am EST, Gaither will be back to run out of lane five in the fourth of six heats after Anthonique Strachan will make her debut here in the first heat in lane two at 10:05am EST. The first three plus the six fastest finishers will advance to the semi-final on Wednesday.

“That’s my favourite event,” said Gaither, who predicted that her goal is to secure a medal in the half-lap race. “I definitely want to finish with a bang.”

Going into the race with a lifetime best of 22.54 and a season’s best of 22.69, Gaither will compete in her heat with American Dezerea Bryant ahead of her in six, Great Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith in seven and Canada’s Crystal Emmanuel in eight. Gaither, however, felt the two races in the century will help to wake her up.

“I trained for it, so I’m ready,” Gaither said. “It’s amazing that these women can come out here and run these times. It’s been a long season we’ve all had, so I’m very encouraged by the field.”

Gaither, however, thanked the Bahamian public for their tremendous support and assured them that Team Bahamas hopes to make them proud at the end of the 10 days of competition at the championships on Sunday, October 6.