Shericka snatches 400 metre silver

BEIJING, China - Shericka Williams etched her name in the annals of Jamaica's athletics with a fighting display to capture the silver medal in the Women's 400 metres at the 29th Olympiad in the Bird's Nest Stadium yesterday. Williams pictured crossing the finish line ahead of the USA's Sandie Richards
Following a shaky start, the Stephen Francis-coached quarter-miler sprung a surprise on the star-studded field by producing a storming last 60-metre burst of speed to move from sixth to second place before stopping the clock in career best time of 49.69 seconds - just 0.07 behind Osaka World champion, Christine Ohuruogu of Britain (49.62). With her heroics, Williams joined Sydney 2000 silver medallist Lorraine Fenton as the only Jamaican women to have won a medal in the coveted event. Williams also became only the sixth Jamaican overall to achieve such heights. Arthur Wint (gold 1948), Herb McKenley (silver 1948 & 1952), George Rhoden (gold 1952) and Gregory Haughton (bronze 2000) are the other Jamaicans in the distinguished club. "I knew most of the girls went out real hard and would get tired over the last 15 to 20 metres, so I took advantage of the situation," said Williams, who replaced Sandie Richards (49.79) on Jamaica's all-time list as the third fastest woman over the distance. "I ran my personal best and got an Olympic silver medal... I could not ask for more," the 22-year-old added. "It's been a road to get here, getting up to train at 5 o'clock in the mornings, putting in the hard work. the puking and the shouting that Coach (Stephen Francis) does at me that makes me cry and all those stuff, I think it has really paid off at this Olympics," the soft-spoken Williams explained. Pre-race favourite Sanya Richards, who looked a sure winner with 40 metres remaining in the race, faded badly into third place with 49.93secs as the fast-finishing Ohuruogu and Williams gobbled her up. Jamaica's other competitor in the event, Rosemarie Whyte, in her first international meet, finished seventh in 50.65secs. In the meantime, Delloreen Ennis-London and Brigitte Foster-Hylton missed out on winning Jamaica's sixth medal at the meet at the 91,000 capacity stadium, placing fifth and sixth in 12.65 and 12.66, respectively, in the 100m hurdles final. An emotional Foster-Hylton immediately announced her retirement from international competition. "I don't think this (fifth place) makes me any less of an athlete in my last Olympics, but hey, I'm very proud of myself," the 33-year-old Foster-Hylton said. "I don't know if I'll be on the track next year, to be honest, because I think I've given it my all. This is it, I don't have anything more to offer. I think I gave it my all this year and I'm just ready to pack it up," the 2006 Commonwealth Champion declared. Foster-Hylton also owns sliver and bronze medals from the 2003 Paris and 2005 Helsinki World Championships, respectively. A tearful Ennis-London told the Observer that next year's World Championships in Berlin would be her last international competition. "For us it's very hard... because we're always getting injured and stuff, no matter how we try, but I guess sometimes in life we just have to walk away from it because we can do so much and no more," Ennis-London said, as she found it hard to hold back the tears. With pre-race favourite and leader Lolo Jones of USA stumbling out of contention after hitting the ninth hurdle, her teammate Dawn Harper took the gold in a personal best 12.54, ahead of Australia's Sally McLellan and Canada's Priscilla Lopes-Schliep, who both clocked 12.64secs. On the men's side, Maurice Wignall, the fourth-placed finisher from Athens 2004 and national champion Richard Phillips progressed to today's semifinal in the 110m hurdles in contrasting fashion. Wignall posted a season best 13.36 ton win quarter-final three, while Phillips advances as one of the fastest losers after clocking his season's best 13.48secs. Later today, 100m gold medallist and world record-holder (9.69secs) Usain Bolt and Melaine Walker will seek to increase the nation's medal tally of two gold and two silver when they compete in the 200m and 400m hurdles finals. Bolt, who strolled to 20.19 seconds to win semifinal one yesterday ahead of reigning champion Shawn Crawford of the USA, has been drawn to run in lane five. Jamaica's other competitor, 2001 world silver medallist Chris Williams, clocked 20.45 to finish sixth in semi-final one. Walker, the world leader in her event, will run from lane six in the decider as she seeks to emulate Deon Hemmings-McCatty as the only Jamaican (man or woman) to win gold in the one-lap obstacle event. In the meantime, Veronica Campbell-Brown, as well as 100m silver medallists Sherone Simpson and Kerron Stewart, will all contest the Women's 200m semi-finals after easily progressing from the quarter-finals yesterday. Jamaica will not be represented in tomorrow's final of the Men's 400m as Ricardo Chambers finished fifth in semi-final two of three in 45.09secs. The Caribbean will be represented by Renny Quow of Trinidad & Tobago and Chris Brown of The Bahamas.

 

Canada launch Tri-Series with victory over Bermuda

TORONTO, Canada (Reuters): All-rounder Manoj David helped lead Canada to a 25-run victory over Bermuda in the opening match of the Canada Cup Tri-Series at the Maple Leaf Cricket Club in King City, Ontario on Monday. Sri Lanka-born David top-scored with a well-paced 48 as Canada made 260 for seven in their 50 overs after Bermuda opted to field first. In reply, Bermuda were restricted to 235-8. Right-hander Karun Jethi provided the late fireworks for Canada, smashing 46 off just 36 balls as he and Harvir Baidwan (21 not out) added 73 for the unbroken eighth wicket in 8.2 overs. Bermuda began their reply promisingly with opener Jekon Edness (45) and Chris Douglas (69) guiding the visitors to 123-1 in the 27th over. However, the departure of Edness heralded a steady decline as off-spinners David (2-30) and Jethi (2-39) shackled the Bermuda batting. Tournament favourites West Indies play Bermuda on Wednesday, the first time the two will meet in a one-day international.