Brigitte Foster of Jamaica (left) leads the second semi-final of the women's 100 metres hurdles during the World Athletics Championships at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis yesterday. Foster won the semi-final in 12.65. - Reuters PARIS, France:
SPRINT HURDLER Brigitte Foster and 400 metres specialist Lorraine Fenton are poised to give the Jamaican contingent here its first medals today at the ninth IAAF World Athletics Championships in Paris.
Foster, the world No. 2 in the 100m hurdles goes into the final at 12:25 p.m. (Ja time) along with two other Jamaicans, Vonette Dixon who is reaching her second consecutive World Championships final and Lacena Golding-Clarke who edged into the final of the event in her first attempt at hurdles at the outdoor World Championships.
Foster's chances of gold were boosted in the semi-finals when her arch-rival, American Gail Devers, failed to advance from her heat after stumbling and losing her rhythm midway in the race.
Golding-Clarke, last year's Commmonwealth Games champion, took full advantage to pip the world No. 1 one for second and an automatic place in the final.
Golding-Clarke clocked 12.84 and Devers 12.87. The winner of the heat was Canada's Perdita Felicien who crossed the line in 12.68. Only the top two from each of three semi-final heats, and the two fastest losers, advanced to the final.
Jamaica's Dixon, 12.85, tied for second with Frenchwoman Patricia Girard in semi-final three and nine athletes will contest today's final. The heat was won by American Jenny Adams in 12.78.
Foster, who goes into the medal round with the fastest time after winning her heat in 12.65, was cautious when asked to assess her chances for gold.
"Everyone in the final has a chance for a medal. It's an obstacle race and I am just going to go out, execute the start and let the race take care of itself," she said before rushing off to the Stade de France warm-up area.
Fenton, meanwhile, has been letting her feet do all the talking. She goes into the final with the second fastest time of 50.43 but has a lot to fear from Mexico's world No. 1 Ana Guevara and defending champion Amy Mbacke of Senegal. The 400m final is at 2:50 this afternoon (Ja time).
There was no luck for Michael Blackwood as he was clipped for third in last night's men's 400m final.
Blackwood who came into the race as the world's No. 1 at the distance could not hold on for the bronze as local hero Marc Raquil came from an almost impossible position 20 metres out to pip the fading Jamaican on the line. Raquil's time was a French record 44.79, Blackwood was a whisker behind in 44.80.
Americans Jerome Young upset his more fancied teammate Tyree Washington to mine gold in a season-best 44.50 seconds. Washington clocked 44.77.
Young's win was in some way a victory for Jamaica. The 27-year-old who left Jamaica at age three, was born in Milk River, Clarendon and his mother, Berton Young, still lives in that town.
Three Jamaicans will also compete in today's men's 400m hurdles semi-finals. Kemel Thompson, who is the second fastest man in the world over the distance, won his first-round heat in 48.63. Dean Griffiths was second to 2001 champion Felix Sanchez of the Dominican Republic. The winner did 48.43 and Griffiths 48.75.
National champion Danny McFarlane clocked 48.86 for second behind South African Llewellyn Herbert's 48.55.
The remaining heats were won by American Joey Woody 48.53 (heat two) and Greek Periklis, 48.76 (heat one).
Jamaica's Claston Bernard is still in medal contention in the gruelling men's decathlon. At the halfway stage he is a creditable fourth with 4239 points. The leader is Kazakhstan's Dmitry Karpov with 4599.
Bernard (10.91, 100m, 7.22m, long jump; 15,39m, shot put; 2.03m, high jump and 49.31, 400m) is likely to fall back today as two of his weakest events, pole vault and 1,500m, are still to come.
Veteran Beveley McDonald is through to the semi-finals of the 200m after her fourth place in heat one of the second round behind winner Torri Edwards of the United States, 22.66. McDonald, 22.96, relegated Slovenia's Merlene Ottey to fifth and elimination from the event. Aleen Bailey who reached the 100m final on Sunday pulled up after 90 metres of heat three with what appeared to be cramps and had to be carried from the track.
Kelli White, the 100m champion, won heat two in 22.67 from the dangerous Russian Anastasiya Kapachinskaya, 22.73. Heat three went to Frenchwoman Muriel Hurtis in 22.70 while 1997 champion Zhanna Block of Ukraine won heat four in 22.67.
