'A big weight off my shoulders' - O'Hara gets redemption with 200m gold

DONETSK, Ukraine:

Redemption. Jamaica's sprinting standout, Michael O'Hara, made it quite clear before his 200m final inside the RSC Olympiyskiy yesterday that his objective was to secure redemption after his disappointing fourth-place finish in the 100m a few days earlier at the IAAF World Youth Championships.

O'Hara had clocked 10.46 last Thursday to finish behind China's Youxue Mo, 10.35, Great Britain's Ojie Edoburun, 10.35, and Cuba's Reynier Mena, 10.37 and out of the medal positions in the shorter sprint.

It was a crushing outcome for the Calabar High School star, who spent much of his time since then, thinking about making up for the disappointment with a good performance in the 200m.

That performance came in yesterday's final, with the youngster attacking the corner and powering home in a World Youth-leading 20.63 and becoming Jamaica's third 200m boys World Youth champion after Usain Bolt (2003) and Ramone McKenzie (2007). His time was also the third fastest after those two - Bolt's world's best 20.13 and McKenzie's 20.57.

Brazil's Vitor Dos Santos, 20.67, took the silver medal, while Mena, 20.79, took home his second bronze medal at these championships.

MOTIVATION

"It's a big weight off my shoulders. I used the disappointment from the 100m as a motivation for me in this 200m and I'm just so relieved and happy that I was able to get this medal and that I am going home a champion," O'Hara beamed after his run.

"I took the disappointment in the 100m as a motivation for me to come here and ensure that I won the 200m," O'Hara added. "I am elated that I was able to stay focused and put in the work and get this gold medal for myself and for Jamaica.

"It means so much to me. I am so happy right now," said O'Hara, who is hoping to use his experience here as a stepping stone and foundation for future success.

"This is the beginning of my journey and I am looking forward now to developing and moving on to higher success," O'Hara said, before reliving the race and sending a special message to his mother, Kareen Williams, who he said has been his main source of inspiration.

"I just really wanted to get off the corner in front and power through to the gold medal. I am happy that I was able to stay focused and execute my race," said O'Hara.

"This is for my mommy, I did this for you and I hope I made you proud," O'Hara beamed.

- A.L.