BUDAPEST, Hungary – Former Olympic and World champion, Kirani James of Grenada, surged into yet another men’s 400 meters final but there was massive disappointment for Olympic champion, Steven Gardiner of the Bahamas, who pulled up injured to miss out on qualification, on day four of the World Athletics Championship here Tuesday.
Olympic champion Steven Gardiner of the Bahamas.The 30-year-old James, World champion in 2011 and Olympic champion a year later in London, finished second in semi-final two in 44.58 seconds, behind Great Britain’s There was no such good fortune for the 27-year-old Gardiner, however, the former World champion easing off the final turn with qualification in sight before suddenly pulling up with an apparent leg injury.
Gardiner had won his opening heat on Sunday in a time of 44.65.
Antonio Watson, 21, led the way for Jamaica, winning the opening semi-final in a personal-best 44.13 while fellow countryman Sean Bailey clinched second spot in semi-final three in 44.94, to also advance.
Trinidadian Jereem Richards (44.76), St Lucian Michael Joseph (45.50), along with Jamaican Zandrion Barnes (45.38) all failed to qualify, however.
In the women’s 400m hurdles, meanwhile, Jamaican Rushelle Clayton was the third fastest into the final, clocking a personal best 53.30 to win the opening semi-final.
She will be joined in Thursday’s final by teammates Andrenette Knight (53.72) and Janieve Russell (53.69) after they finished second and third respectively in the remaining semi-finals.
Commonwealth Games silver medalist, Bahamiah Devynne Charlton, made a statement in the opening rounds of the women’s sprint hurdles when she set a new national record of 12.44 seconds, to finish second in heat three behind American Kendra Harrison in a world-leading 12.24.
Jamaican Danielle Williams was timed at 12.51 in finishing third, to also advance to the semi-finals.
Another Jamaican, Ackera Nugent, captured heat one in 12.60 and will have with her in the next round, fellow countrywoman Megan Tapper who finished second in heat five in 12.51.
Matthew Hudson-Smith who stopped the clock at 44.26.
