The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senor Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

Despite running a personal best, Tynia Gaither was denied her third consecutive spot in the final of the women’s 200 metres at the World Championships.

Running out of lane eight in the first of three heats inside the Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon on day five of the week-long championships last night, Gaither clocked 22.41 seconds to place fifth as she improved on her previous lifetime best of 22.45 she ran earlier this year.

An eighth place finalist in both the 2017 championships in London, England and 2019 in Doha, Qatar, Gaither needed to be one of the top two in each of the heats or finish with one of the two next fastest times to move on to Thursday’s final.

Gaither, third in her heat in 21.61 for the 13th fastest qualifying performance, ended up 11th, but was appreciative of her efforts, considering the disappointment she had to go through with her false start in the semifinal of the 100m on Sunday.

She was the only competitor to represent the Bahamas in the semi-finals after Anthonique Strachan suffered an injury in the heat the day before. “I’m with the world’s best, times are getting faster and faster, which pushed me to a PB (personal best), so I couldn’t be more happier with that,” Gaither told the media in the mixed zone after the race.

Shericka Jackson, who got a silver in Jamaica’s historic sweep of the 100m, won the heat in 21.67. Aminatou Seyni of Niger was the other automatic qualifier for the final on Thursday, placing second in 22.04.

Jackson emerged as the fastest qualifier with 100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce taking the second spot in winning the last of three heats in 21.67.

American Tamara Clark took the second heat in 21.95 for the third best time. With her individual appearances at the championships over and done with, Gaither will be added to the relay pool for the women’s 4 x 400m on Saturday, but it’s uncertain whether or not she will run in the heats.

The combination of Megan Moss, Doneisha Anderson, Javonya Valcourt and Janae Ambrose are expected to run in their bid to get into the final on Sunday, which would make way for Shaunae Miller- Uibo to compete.

The 28-year-old Miller- Uibo, the runner-up in Doha, still has some unfinished business as the two-time Olympic champion will be back on the track today when she runs in the semi-finals of the women’s 400m.

After cruising to victory in her heats on Sunday in 51.10 for the ninth fastest time, Miller-Uibo has drawn lane six with her 23-year-old American training partner Lynna Irby running on the side of her in lane seven.

Still waiting to compete on the final weekend of competition will be national record holder Devynne Charlton in the women’s 100m hurdles and Ken Mullings in his debut in the men’s decathlon.

Meanwhile, the 29-year-old Gaither, however, said she will take a few days off to recuperate and get ready for the trek to Birmingham, England where she will be competing at the Commonwealth Games.

After the Commonwealth Games, scheduled for July 27 to August 7, Gaither, who won the Bahamas Nationals’ 100m and got third in the 200m, said she will compete in a few meets in Europe before she shuts down her season.

But as a result of her schedule, she noted that she won’t be able to return home in time to compete in the North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) Championships in Grand Bahama, scheduled for August 19-21.