Haughton mines bronze By Elton Tucker, Assistant Sport Editor EDMONTON GREGORY Haughton won bronze in the men's 400 metres final yesterday to give Jamaica its first medal at the eighth IAAF World Athletics Championships in Edmonton. Haughton, who finished the event in 44.98 seconds to pocket his third individual bronze medal in four world championships, was a disappointed man after the race. "This gold medal was mine to lose and I did a pretty good job. Going down the back straight I didn't feel the smooth way I wanted to. I held back a little and then tried to make my move 130 metres out but by then it was a bit too late," Haughton said. Avard Moncur of the Bahamas won the gold medal in 44.64 while silver went to Germany's Ingo Schultz in 44.87. American Antonio Pettigrew, the 1991 champion, ran on strongly but just failed to catch Haughton and had to settle for fourth in 44.99. Jamaica will be looking to add to its medal tally this evening. Olympic silver medallist Lorraine Graham-Fenton will be the island's only representative in the women's 400 metres final which is set for 9.45 p.m. (Ja time). Graham-Fenton, who said on Sunday that she was just approaching 90 per cent fitness after an injury midway the season, was second in semi-final three behind Mexico's Ana Guevara who looked very easy in clocking 50.58. Graham-Fenton's time was a season best 50.61. Veteran Sandie Richards finished a disappointing sixth in the second semi-final. Running out of the very difficult lane one, Richards, who was never nearer than fifth, clocked 51.40. The winner was Senegal's Amy Thiam Mbacke in 50.21 with Nadjina Kaltouma of Chad second in 50.38. Nigeria's Falilat Ogunkoya qualified as one of the two fastest losers, placing third in 50.50. The best time of the semi-finals was returned by gold medal favourite Grit Breuer of Germany who ran away with semi-final one in 50.32. Olesya Zykina of Russia 50.59 and Cameroon's Mirelle Nguimgo got the remaining two qualifying places. Olympic silver medallist Deon Hemmings and Debbie Ann Parris will line up for tomorrow's women's 400 metres hurdles final. Parris, one of the world leaders in the event coming into the championships, ran her best ever time of 53.88 in semi-final one but was beaten by defending champion Daimi Pernia of Cuba in a world leading 53.81 with 1997 gold medallist Nezha Bidouane just behind in 53.85. Hemmings ran her best time for the season, 54.47, but this was only good enough for third in semi-final two behind Russia's Yuliya Nosova 54.03 and Tonja Buford-Bailey 54.15.
IN ACTION TODAY 10.45 a.m - Men's 200m first round Ricardo Williams (heat 1) Chris Williams (heat 7) 11.45 a.m. - Men's 400m hurdles first round Ian Weakley (heat 1) Neil Gardner (heat 4) Mario Watts (heat 5) 7.05 p.m. - Women's long jump final Elva Goulbourne 7.20 p.m. - 110m hurdles second round (note: first round was cancelled) Maurice Wignall 8.30 p.m. - Women's 1,500m final Mardrea Hyman 9.45 p.m. - Women's 400m final Lorraine Graham
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