Anguish in Half-Way Tree after Thompson loss

It was more anguish and disappointment for the handful of track and field fans who were on hand in Half-Way-Tree Square to witness Elaine Thompson's disappointing fifth place finish in the women's 100m final at the IAAF World Championships yesterday.

With most local fans still suffering from Usain Bolt's disappointing third place run in Saturday's men's 100m final, most people went about their regular business, paying no attention to the action taking place on the close circuit television, until Thompson's race was announced.

Even the extensive preparations that took place for Bolt's race the day before was absent, and there was no access to the upper level of the Half Way Tree Transport Center, which was a main view point for Bolt's race the day before.

More disappointment

However, the next few minutes before the 100m final, many passersby, who were on their way to the Grand Gala Independence Day celebrations at the National Stadium, stopped for a brief moment to see one of their prime gold medal candidates, Thompson, help them recover from Bolt's surprise defeat the day before.

But they were in for even more disappointment, as the Olympic double sprint champion ran out to finish a disappointing fifth.

"Mi caa believe," said one supporter to her friend, as she looked on bewildered. Jennifer Johnson, a mother who was on her way to the Grand Gala with her son, noted that Thompson was never in the race. "She was lost in the race. She don't even come anything (get a medal)," she noted.

While Nashaina Reid, was still trying to absorb the reality, "A really fifth she run?! No sah, dis caa real, she really run fifth," she asked.

But as soon as the scant crowd had assembled, it disappeared. As moments following the race, the handful of people that stood by to witness the race quickly went about their regular business. However, a few stunned onlookers remained bemused.