MISSION ACCOMPLISHED - Thomas-Dodd delivers on promise made to teenage self; Jackson lands 400m bronze

DOHA, Qatar:

In winning Jamaica’s first ever medal in the women’s shot put event at the Olympic or World Championships level, 26-year-old Danniel Thomas-Dodd delivered on a promise that she made over a decade ago to a teenage girl in Westmoreland.

Still a student at Frome Technical High at the time, Thomas-Dodd and her teammate, Tanice, had a conversation that would stick with her for the rest of her life and would fuel the determination she wore like an armour in last night’s World Championships final at the Khalifa International Stadium.

Tanice’s observation back then – that no Jamaican woman had ever had success on the international stage in a throwing event – led the teenage Thomas-Dodd to commit to providing a reference point for young Jamaican girls and proving that medalling in the throws at the highest level was, in fact, possible.

Last night’s 19.47m silver-medal performance also meant that the national record holder (19.55m) is the first Caribbean woman to medal in the event at the World Championships and the first English-speaking Caribbean woman to medal when you add the Olympic Games to the mix.

“I told myself at that point that I would be one of the first to set the trend for younger Jamaicans to see that field events is not something to shy away from, especially the throws for the women, and I am just really happy to be in the position now that I can influence others,” said an emotional Thomas-Dodd.

The gold medal went to China’s Lijiao Gong (19.55m), with the bronze medal going to Germany’s Christina Schwanitz (19.17m).

PB SECURES BRONZE FOR JACKSON

Meanwhile, in one of the greatest races in World Championships history, Shericka Jackson posted a personal-best 49.47 seconds to take the bronze medal in the women’s 400m final, which was won by Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser in 48.14 – the third fastest time ever – with The Bahamas’ Shaunae Miller-Uibo running second in 48.37 seconds, the ninth fastest time in history.

Naser’s time was the fastest in 36 years and came after she ran two 400m races earlier in the championships as a member of her country’s bronze medal-winning mixed 4x400m relay team.

“I am feeling pretty good. I got a bronze medal and a personal best. I didn’t go as fast as I wanted to, but I am pretty grateful,” said Jackson, who now owns the fourth fastest time by a Jamaican in the event. Last night’s medal also adds to her other bronze medals won at the 2015 World Championships and the 2016 Olympics.

Another Jamaican, Stephenie-Ann McPherson, finished sixth in 50.89 seconds.

Last night’s results pushed the Jamaican tally at these championships to six medals (2 gold, 3 silver, and 1 bronze), with three days of competition to go.

‘ONLY UP FROM HERE’

In the women’s shot put final, there was something quite business-like about Thomas-Dodd’s approach throughout her series.

Her aggression in the circle was matched only by a palpable determination not to give anyone a chance to nudge her off the podium. Not this time. There would be no repeat of her London 2017 heartbreak.

She improved with each of her first three attempts – 18.87m was followed by 19.02m and then 19.36m. She meant business.

A 19.05m fourth-round effort was followed by a big throw that landed on the 20m mark, but a raised red flag, signifying a foul, stopped the celebrations before they really began and brought groans from the packed stands.

Jamaica’s management team had appealed the foul throw given for Thomas-Dodd’s fifth attempt during the final. However, after reviewing the video footage, they agreed with the officials’ decision.

“I have to give props to the officials that were out there because they were very efficient in securing the distance. If I decide to go back and check it, then it’s there, but for me, it just shows me that there is so much more potential for me and so much more that I have to offer to this event, and that’s what I am going to take away from this competition in general, other than the silver medal,” she said of the flagged effort.

Stepping to the circle for her last throw and with the silver medal secured, Thomas-Dodd again got another improvement, landing the implement 19.47m into the sector to close her series in style and exorcise the demons of London 2017, when she missed the podium on the very last throw of the competition.

“London 2017 was definitely a motivating factor. I was a lot more determined and focused this time around,” Thomas-Dodd shared. “[Beijing] 2015 was my first World Championships, and at that point in time, I was just happy to make the team in general. In 2017, it was one of my best years I have ever had. I won the NCAA Collegiate gold medal and then came back and came fourth at the World Championships. Then to move two places up for the (World) Indoors that following year, then winning the Commonwealth gold and also at PanAms and then here in Doha, it’s only up from here for me,” Thomas-Dodd said, smiling.

And maybe somewhere out there Tanice is smiling, too.

So, too, was former Frome Technical High School teacher Roderick Miles, who was the first person to introduce Thomas-Dodd to the throwing events.

With Rushell Clayton’s 400m hurdles final set for today at 9:30 p.m. (1:30 p.m.), and Akeem Bloomfield and Demish Gaye set to test themselves against the best in the men’s 400m final at 10:20 p.m. (2:20 p.m.), and some big names such as Danielle Williams still on ice, the Jamaican supporters will be looking forward to a strong finish as the championships heat up in the Arabian desert.

JAMAICANS IN ACTION TODAY

12:40 p.m.: Women’s 4x100m Heats

Jamaica

1:05 p.m.: Men’s 4x100m Heats

Jamaica

1:30 p.m.: Women’s 400m Hurdles FINAL

Rushell Clayton

2:20 p.m.: Men’s 400m FINAL

Akeem Bloomfield, Demish Gaye

andre.lowe@gleanerjm.com