Jamaica's Kaliese Spencer was 8th while Janieve Russell was 5th in the women's 400 metre hurdles final on Wednesday Aug 26, 2015 at the World Championships in Beijing, China.
Janieve Russell with a personal best of 54.64 secs and Diamond League winner Kaliese Spencer 55.47 secs, finished 5th and 8th respectively in Wednesday's women's 400 metre hurdles final at the 15th IAAF World Track & Field Championships in Beijing, China.
Spencer who came into the championships short of her best due to injury, hit the second hurdle and never recovered, while Russell was left behind approaching the 250 metre mark, but stayed on strongly for 5th and her personal best performance.
The final was won by defending champion Zuzana Hejnova of the Czech Republic, who recovered from injuries to peak in time for the championships. She stopped the clock in a world leading 53.50 seconds ahead of American teenager Shamier Little 53.94 and Cassandra Tate 54.02.
In the men's 200 metre semi-finals, defending champion Usain Bolt was awesome in jogging to victory in 19.95 secs, a season's best in semifinal-3. Bolt declared in the mixed zone when speaking to TVJ's Kayon Raynor: "I am coming to win, that's what I am here for. Gatlin will not beat me."
In semi-final-2, Julian Forte faded into 8th position in 20.57 secs and did not make progress, while Justin Gatlin was imperious in 19.87 secs in winning the heat to set up another mouthwatering clash with the incomparable Bolt.
In semi-final-1, Nickel Ashmeade found his running shoes for second position in 20.19 secs to qualify for the final, but Warren Weir was unseated as the reigning silver medallist, finishing 7th in 20.43 secs and did not advance. Zharnel Hughes from Anguilla and who represented Kingston College but now runs for Great Britain, won the heat in 20.14 secs.
In the women's 200 metre quarterfinals, Elaine Thompson, Veronica Campbell Brown and Sherone Simpson all qualified for the semi-finals.
Thompson won her heat in 22.78 secs ahead of Bianca Williams and Khamica Bingham. Veronica Campbell Brown, despite starting the race in lane5 and finishing in lane 6, advanced with victory in 22.79 secs. Campbell Brown was not disqualified because she did not impede the runner in lane six, Margaret Adeoye of Great Britain, who also made progress in 23.10 secs by finishing 3rd. In heat-7, Sherone Simpson was second in 22.52 secs behind Britain's Dina Asher-Smith who was impressive in winning in 22.22 secs.
There were three other finals on Wednesday's 5th day of competition.
In perhaps one of the greatest men's 400 metre finals, South Africa's Wayde Van Niekerk delivered on the promises of his performances throughout the season, by winning in a world leading 43.48 secs. LaShawn Merritt was second in a brisk and personal best 43.65 secs, while Grenada young stud Kirani James was 3rd in 43.78, a season's best.
Trinidad & Tobago's Machel Cedenio was 7th in 45.06 secs.
In the women's pole vault final, Cuba landed another field event gold as Yarisley Silva cleared 4.90 metres ahead of Fabiana Murer of Brazil 4.85 metres, while Nikoleta Kyniakopoulou of Greece was 3rd in 4.80 metres.
And the men's javelin final produced the 4th best throw in history, as Kenya's Julius Yeko recorded 92.72 metres for an unlikely gold medal for his country known for producing middle and long distance runners like an assembly line. Egypt's Ihab El Sayed, 88.99 metres took the silver, and Finland's Tero Pitkamaki 87.64 won the bronze.
Six Jamaicans will be in action on day-6, (Wednesday night local time), as Fedrick Dacres goes in the men's discus qualifying at 8:30pm followed by Jason 'Dads' Morgan and Chad Wright at 9:50p.m. in Group B.
The women go in the 100 metre sprint hurdles at 10:15p.m. when Danielle Williams take to the track; at 10:31p.m Kimberly Laing will be in action followed by Shermaine Williams at 10:39p.m.
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