Medals for Caribbean quartet at World Indoors

Sopot (Poland), March 9 (IANS/CMC) Jamaican Kaliese Spencer, along with Bahamians Chris Brown and Shaunae Miller, all claimed medals in the 400 metres at the World Indoor Championships here.

However, there was massive disappointment in the marquee men's 60 metres sprint final, as Caribbean hopefuls failed miserably.

Spencer finished with a silver in the final in a personal best time of 51.54 seconds, Miller took bronze in a time of 52.06 seconds and American Francena McCorory took gold in 51.12 seconds here Saturday, reports CMC.

The medal was the first indoor for Spencer, who won gold in the 4x400m relay at the Berlin World Championships five years ago.

"I was in a difficult position. I wanted to position myself better, but I am still grateful for my silver," Spencer said.

"This silver medal will motivate me on for the rest of the season. I will focus on both the 400m flat and 400m hurdles. I will do my best in the 4x400m."

Miller, a former World Youth and World Junior champion, was just elated to be on the podium.

"Thank God I am here! I am so exhausted, I cannot even talk. Thank God for this result," the 19-year-old said.

The veteran Brown also copped silver, clocking a personal best 45.58 seconds, as he trailed home winner Czech Pavel Maslak who was timed at 45.24 -- a new national indoor record.

Trinidadian Lalonde Gordon, a bronze medallist at the London 2012 Olympics, finished a disappointing fifth in 46.39 seconds.

"It was great fun to come here and take part, racing these younger guys. I guess I'm like fine wine, getting better with age," said Brown, the 2010 Indoor World champion.

"My medal collection indoors is complete now. I just concentrated on running my own race and ended up with a personal best. Experience is the best teacher. Now I'm looking forward to the World Relays in Nassau, it will be good to compete against the world's best in my own country."

Jamaican Kimberley Williams left it late before clinching bronze in the women's triple jump. With her final attempt, she measured 14.39 metres, as Russia's Ekaterina Koneva won gold with a mark of 14.46. Ukraine's Olga Saladukha was second with 14.45.

"I am happy but not really satisfied with the bronze medal. I was too excited, I could not calm myself down. I was too hyped. This is what happened on the day, but I have got to be thankful, I am healthy," Williams said.

"Yet I know I can do better. I just need to keep working hard and eliminate my mistakes. I wished I would have handled myself better. Well, this is a learning process. My fifth attempt, a foul, was around 14.50 m. After that I changed my run-up for the last attempt."

There was no such glory for Jamaican Nesta Carter who finished seventh in the men's sprint final, just ahead of fellow countryman Kimmari Roach who finished last.

Carter clocked 6.57 seconds and Roach 6.58 as Richard Kilty of Great Britain took top honours in a personal best 6.49.

The 28-year-old Carter, a silver medallist in Istanbul two years ago, had earlier stormed into the final with a season-best 6.50 seconds, in winning semi-final one.

Roach finished second in semi-final two in a personal best time of 6.55 seconds.

There was also disappointment for Jason Rogers and Brijesh Lawrence of St Kitts and Nevis, Bahamian Warren Fraser and Guyanese Adam Harris all of whom perished at the semi-final stage.

The Caribbean had no presence in the women's sprint hurdles final after the lone medal hope, Jamaican Monique Morgan, finished last in her semi-final.

Reigning World and Olympic 100 metres champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce will chase her first World Indoor medal Sunday when she lines up in the semi-finals of the women's 60m sprint.

She will be joined by fellow Jamaican Veronica Campbell-Brown, Trinidadian Michelle-Lee Ahye and Bahamian Sheniqua Ferguson who secured their places in the penultimate round.

--IANS/CMC

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