2023 BLAZING IN BUDAPEST
German team, but sprint double champion Katrin Krabbe damaged 21 GREATEST HITS JAMAICA AT THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS medal with a
02 2. 1991 Big anchor by Oey wins 4x100: Dismayed by taking only bronze from the 100 and 200, Oey came in for the 4x100 final at the 1991 World Championships in Tokyo. Hurdler Michelle Freeman, Juliet Cuthbert and curve runner supreme Bev McDonald did their best to stay with a swi McKenley was on hand in Helsinki to witness another chapter in the Jamaican 400‐ metre legend that he, Wint and Rhoden had helped to build. 01 1983 Bert Cameron: At the first World Championships, Jamaica’s big hope for gold was Bertland Cameron, who didn’t disappoint. He won every round of the men’s 400 metres and dominated the final with a display of power and speed to defeat the US pair of Michael Franks and Sunder Nix in 45.05 seconds. Bert’s win took place in Helsinki, Finland in the same stadium where Arthur Wint, Les Laing, Herb McKenley and George Rhoden set a world record in the 4x400 to beat the USA at the 1952 Olympics. Fingly, I n 18 World Championships spanning four decades, Jamaican athletes have won medals – and friends aplenty – in some of the most excing athlecs events ever contested. Here’s a look back at 21 moments that stand above all the others in our memory.
04 4. 1995 First field event medal: Jamaica was sll best known for its prowess in the sprints and the 400 metres. The first to break the mold was long jumper James Beckford. Cuba’s Ivan Pedroso had secured the gold Olympic champion Gwen Torrence gave chase, but thankfully Oey got home 0.02 in front of the American. 03 3. 1993 At last, Merlene gets her very own gold: By the me the World Championships were staged for the fourth me, Oey had won five individual medals, silver in the 200 from 1983 and 100/200 bronze in 1987 as well as 1991. In Stugart, Germany, she lost in a controversially close photo finish to Gail Devers in the 100. The loss made her even more determined to win the 200. She fizzed off the turn in the final and connued to advance unl fague shortened her stride. That was all the invitaon Oey needed. She charged forward, zoomed past long jumper/ sprinter Heike Dreschler and closed a gold medal effort. The me was a naonal record 41.94 seconds, Jamaica’s first‐ever sub‐42 performance. the field on the second leg. Just as Oey revved her engines for the anchor leg, however, the Germans flubbed their last baton exchange.
06 6. 2005 TJ gold for Trecia, despite an injured ankle: Trecia Smith banged her ankle in qualifying but refused to yield. Treated by team doctors, she bravely stepped on the runway for the triple final and gave a command performance with a world‐ leading leap of 15.11 metres. Moreover, it came 10 years aer James Beckford got Jamaica’s first field event medal. with a split me of 49.7 and her advancing footsteps seemed to pressure the USA into a baton passing mistake. With their Jamaican‐born anchor Suzian Reid scurrying to pick up the baton, Parris passed to 400 runner‐up Lorraine Fenton who hurried home for gold. The win was secured in naonal record me – 3.20.65 – with Fenton and Sandie Richards winning gold in front of a warm audience in Edmonton, Canada. 05 5. 2001 Gold in the 4x400: The USA was on its way to a roune win in the 4x400 unl Jamaica’s 400 hurdles finalist Debbie‐Ann Parris stepped on the gas. Parris reclaimed important metres for her team on the third leg Beckford snatched it away from him by one cenmetre in the last round. The historic silver‐medal jump spanned 8.30 metres. huge second round leap taped at 8.70 metres and Mike Powell, a two‐me winner, looked to have the silver wrapped up for the United States ... unl
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