Jamaica's Medal tally soars

André Lowe, Senior Staff Reporter

Delhi, India:

Sprinter Lansford Spence struck silver in the 200m final while, pain and discomfort could not stop Sheree Francis and Nickiesha Wilson from adding to Jamaica's medal tally at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium yesterday.

The island's medal count now stands at six (two gold, three silver, one bronze), good enough for 13th in the overall medal table. Australia, 136, India, 73, England, 103, Canada, 51 are the top four teams at this point.

Lansford Spence produced the two best 200m runs of his life, on his way to a silver medal, first posting 20.54 seconds for third in his semi-final before eclipsing that with a powerful and determined 20.49 seconds in the final.

The event was won by England's Leon Baptiste in 20.24, with Christian Malcolm (Wales) finishing third in 20.52 seconds.

Satisfied

"Im satisfied, I got a silver medal and a personal best, I can't complain," said Spence seconds after securing his medal. This means a lot for me because for the last couple of years I have been down so I'm expecting to build on this and continue to improve."

Francis, who was clearly suffering from severe pain - grimacing and clutching her hamstring after clearing her second height - eventually came out second-best to win the silver medal behind Canadian Nicole Forrester, with a leading height of 1.88m.

Forrester won with 1.91m, while St Lucia's Laverne Spencer was third, also with 1.88m.

"I'm feeling good coming out here and getting this medal. I was expecting to go higher and even though I'm not trying to find excuses, my hamstring is kind of hurting. But I'm still proud of my silver. I actually wanted to go over 1.95m tonight, but I'm still happy," said Francis shortly afterwards.

Wilson, who has been battling a tightness in her hamstring since her arrival in Delhi, battled hard to secure her bronze medal and had to receive medical treatment immediately after the race.

Slight strain

"I have a slight strain in my hamstring. I felt it in the race, it was tightening up so I believe that it contributed to my time because when I kicked towards the end of the race I just couldn't shake the pain, I just couldn't go any faster," Wilson said, while laying on her back inside the mixed zone.

Nigeria's Muizat Odumosu won the gold medal ahead of Scotland's Eilidh Child.

In the men's 400m hurdles final, Andron Findlay was seventh with a time of 50.48 seconds.

The gold medal went to David Greene (Wales), 48.52, silver to Louis Van Zyl (South Africa), 48.63, while Rhys Williams(Wales), took the bronze in 49.19.

In the women's 100m hurdles, Jamaica's lone representative, Andrea Bliss, produced the thirdfastest time of the qualifying round, 13.34 seconds, as she finished second in her heat and advanced to today's final, which is scheduled to run off at 7:05 a.m.

At the semi-final stage of the women's 200m, no Jamaican was able to progress into the finals.

Audria Segree could only manage a fifth-place finish in her semi-final, crossing the line in a pedestrian 24.38 seconds, while her compatriot, Nadia Cunningham, did not fare any better, clocking 24.85 seconds for seventh in her semi-final.

In other action today, Jamaica will open its account in the 4x100m at 9:55 a.m. in heat number three, while the 4x400m team bows into action a couple hours earlier at 7:45a.m.

Jabbari Ennis will compete in the men's pole vault finals at 7 a.m. (Jamaica time) and Shawn Pitter is expected to start in heat one of the men's 1500m at 8:55a.m.