TOKYO, Japan – The duo of Orlando Bennett and Tyler Mason finished second and third respectively in the final of the men’s 110-metre hurdles to increase Jamaica’s medal count to five at the ongoing World Athletic Championships here on Tuesday.
Orlando Bennett (left) and Tyler Mason (right) celebrate after winning silver and bronze in the men’s 110-metre hurdles at the World Athletic Championships in Tokyo.USA maintained their dominance in the event with Cordell Tinch capturing gold in 12.99 seconds, with Bennett taking the silver in 13.05 seconds, while the bronze medal went to Mason, who clocked 13.12 seconds.
Running out of lane seven, Tinch recovered from a slow start and took control of the race with 30 metres to go, leaving the two Jamaicans in his wake.
Three-time defending champion, Grant Holloway failed to make it past the semifinal stage.
Despite having to settle for silver, Bennett said he hoped his performance was a sign of greater things to come.
“It’s like a catapult. Personally, I always believed I could do this, so it just shows the world that I actually did it,” Bennett said.
Meanwhile, Grenada’s former Olympic and World champion Kirani James bowed out of the men’s 400 metres at the semifinal stage after finishing joint last in Heat 3 with Delano Kennedy of Jamaica in a pedestrian 44.97 seconds.
Jamaica’s Rusheen McDonald booked his spot in the final after placing second in Heat 1 in a season’s best time of 44.04 seconds, behind winner Busang Collen Kebinatshipi of Botswana in a world leading 43.61 seconds.
Trinidad and Tobago’s Jereem Richards also made it to the last eight after finishing third in a season’s best 44.12 seconds, while Bovel McPherson of Jamaica was eliminated after placing sixth in Heat 1 in 44.99 seconds.
Meanwhile, Olympic champion Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic booked her place in the women’s 400 metres final after finishing second in Heat 1 in 49.82 seconds. The heat was won by Poland’s Natalia Bukowiecka in 49.67 seconds.
Also advancing was Nickisha Pryce of Jamaica, who clocked 49.46 seconds to come third in Heat 3.
However, the news was not so good for World Championship bronze medalist, Sada Williams of Barbados, who was eliminated after placing fourth in Heat 1 in a season’s best 50.39 seconds.
Dejanea Oxley of Jamaica finished seventh in the heat in 51.42 seconds, while Printassia Johnson of the Bahamas was sixth in Heat 2 in 50.81 seconds and also failed to qualify.
Reigning Olympic champion, Thea LaFond of Dominica easily advanced to the final of the women’s triple jump with her leap of 14.40 metres earning her an automatic spot in the last 12.
Also advancing were the Jamaican pair of Shanieka Ricketts and Ackelia Smith, who jumped 14.30 metres and 14.21 metres respectively.
Meanwhile, Tyrice Taylor of Jamaica (1:45.13) and his teammate Navasky Anderson (1:44.87) moved into the semifinals of the men’s 800 metres.
