Jamaican performances in Doha

Jamaicans spent two years mourning the paltry four-medal haul by their team at the 2017 World Championships. The sun rose again in Doha as the Qatari capital hosted the IAAF showcase, with Jamaica collecting 12 medals, including three gold. The revival featured five moments that were extra special.

5. RELAY REVELATION – Terry Thomas 44.3!!!

The gold medal won by Natalliah Whyte, Fraser-Pryce, Jonielle Smith and 400m bronze medallist Shericka Jackson in the sprint relay was especially sweet. However, the relay moment that generated the most shock came in the men’s 4x400m final. When unheralded Terry Thomas zipped into third-leg duty at breakneck speed, veteran observers trembled. The former Greater Portmore High School standout closed on the Americans, but miraculously for a man with a personal best of 45.47 seconds, he completed his leg in a stunning split time of 44.3 seconds.

4. DANNIEL DOES IT TOO

Even hardcore sprint fans were beginning to love the throws after Dacres won the discus silver. On October 2, when Danniel Thomas-Dodd stepped up for her last throw in shot put qualifying, they were biting their nails. Unsettled in her first two throws, she hadn’t yet secured a place in the final. The powerfully built Commonwealth champion launched her third effort past the qualifying line to 19.32m, reviewed her work, turned, and celebrated with a power squat and a scream.

A day later, she blasted her way to win the silver.

3. DACRES DOES IT … FINALLY

Eighth in 2015 and fourth in 2017, Fedrick Dacres simply had to win a medal in Doha, and he did. The 25 year-old played second fiddle to super Swede Daniel Stahl, who had lost two years ago when he was favoured to win. Outdistanced by Stahl, Dacres navigated the tricky throwing conditions to make history for Jamaica with its maiden discus medal.

2. SHELLY HAS NO EQUAL

The IAAF TV commentator wondered aloud if the clock had malfunctioned when three-time 100m World ­champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce eased through her first-round race in 10.81 seconds. In the final, the 2008 and 2012 Olympic champion sprang from the blocks and stayed on the ­accelerator all the way. The result? A world-leading time of 10.71 seconds, her fourth 100m world title and her 15th trip under 10.8s.

It was a reminder that she has no equal in the history of the 100m.

1. LONG JUMP HIJACK BY GAYLE

After dodging early elimination, tall 23-year-old Tajay Gayle strode to the runaway as the world number 3 in the men’s long jump. The Jamaican had lost consistently to South Africa’s 2017 winner Luvo Manyonga and Cuban wonder boy Juan Miguel Echevarria in the last two seasons, so everyone thought the best he could get was the bronze.

Everything changed in the first round. Gayle bounded to an early lead with a personal best of 8.46m. Surprised by the man he had beaten five times in 2019, the Cuban pressed. In round four, Gayle hitch-kicked his way to a Jamaican record of 8.69m, number 10 all time, and a smidge past the personal best jumps by the Cuban and the South African. It was over. Not only had Gayle become Jamaica’s first male field event World champion, but it was also the nation’s first long jump medal since 1993.