Thompson, Scott secure silver medals at World Indoors

Jamaica picked up a pair of silver medals on day one of the World Athletics Indoor Championships after Kishane Thompson and Jordan Scott finished second in the men’s 60 metres and triple jump respectively yesterday at the Kujawsko-Pomorska Arena in Torun, Poland.

Thompson in a personal best 6.45 seconds and Scott (season’s best 7.33 metres) both earned their first World Indoor medals with their performances and opened Jamaica’s medal tally at the championships.

In the men’s 60m event, all three Jamaicans manoeuvred the opening round as Thompson, Bryan Levell and Ackeem Blake all advanced with ease.

Levell won heat three with a time of 6.53 seconds while Thompson was without peer in heat five in a time of 6.56.

Blake booked his spot in the semifinals when he took heat seven in 6.59.

However, it was only Levell and Thompson who advanced to the final while Blake, 6.55, finished fourth in his heat and outside the qualifying spots.

Levell recovered from a slow start in semifinal one to win in a time of 6.53 while Thompson was second in heat two in a time of 6.47.

In the final, Thompson finished just behind the USA’s Jordan Anthony who took the title in a world-leading 6.41. Another American, Trayvon Bromell, was third in 6.45.

It was bitter disappointment for Levell who pulled up in the final and crossed the line seventh in 7.69.

MAKING AMENDS

Scott improved on his fourth-place finish at the World Indoors last year.

He finished behind Italy’s Andy Diaz who defended his indoor title with a world-leading mark of 17.47.

Yasser Triki of Algeria took the bronze medal with a best of 17.30.

“I cannot say that I did not believe I could do it, but I never thought I could be so happy with this,” Scott told World Athletics after the event.

“Last summer, I had a great season with a lot of experience over the Diamond League events. It gave me huge confidence and understanding for how to cope with all these ups and downs.

“Jamaica is raising its profile in the field events,” he said.

“Being the first man from the country to win a medal in men’s triple jump at World Indoors is like making a little athletics history for your country.”

In the other final on schedule, Jamaica’s Lamara Distin finished 10th in the women’s high jump final with a best height of 1.85m.

The World Indoors title went to Ukraine’s Yaroslava Mahuchikh who topped the field after clearing 2.01.

It was a three-way tie for the silver medal with Australia’s Nicola Olyslagers, Serbia’s Angelina Topic and Yuliia Levchenko of Ukraine all clearing 1.99 and posting identical series of jumps.

Natoya Goule-Toppin will be Jamaica’s only athlete in the women’s 800m semifinals as she finished second in her heat with a time of two minutes, 01.32 seconds (2:01.32).

Kelly-Ann Beckford failed to advance from heat four with her time of 2:04.09 just enough to place fourth.

Navasky Anderson advanced to the men’s 800m semifinals as one of the fastest losers after placing third in his first round heat in 1:46.34. He will compete in semifinal one at 7:08 a.m. today.

Jamaica will be without a representative in the men’s 400m final after Delano Kennedy failed to advance past the first round with a time of 47.02 while Reheem Hayles was eliminated at the semifinal stage in a time of 46.87.

After day one action, Jamaica sit fourth in the medal tally with two silver medals, behind the USA who are first with two gold and one silver. Ukraine are second with one gold and one silver, while Italy sit third with one gold.

gregory.bryce@gleanerjm.com