Barbados’ World Championships bronze medallist Sada Williams and fellow quarter-miler Jonathan Jones have both qualified for Sunday’s finals at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England.
In Friday’s 400 metres semi-finals, Williams clocked 51.59 seconds to win heat two. It is the second fastest time overall, just marginally better than the 51.66 she did in the opening round. Jones qualified third with 45.82.
Barbados’ other semi-finalist, Kyle Gale, finished fifth in his heat in 46.78 and did not advance. He was 14th overall.
England’s Victoria Ohuruogu has the fastest time of 51 seconds flat among the women. The first seven finalists all ran 51-point, while Jamaica’s Junelle Bromfield picked up the final spot with a time of 52.18.
Guyana’s Aliyah Abrams, the other Caribbean entrant in the event, did not advance with 52.82 seconds.
Jones won his heat little difficulty from Muzala Samukongah of Zambia (46.06).
England’s Matthew Hudson-Smith with a time of 45.77 seconds, and Uganda’s Haron Adoli who did a personal best 45.80 to reach the final, are ranked ahead of Jones, who like Williams, are yet to be tested.
Jamaica’s two entrants, Anthony Cox (45.98) and Nathon Allen (45.99), are also in the final.
Missing the cut were Alonzo Russell (46.40) of The Bahamas, Jamaican Jevaughn Powell (46.40), Asa Guevara (46.46) of Trinidad and Tobago, Michael Joseph (47.03) of St Lucia and Grenada’s Michael Francois with a time of 47.45 seconds.
Earlier, Barbados men’s 4x400m relay team comprising Jones, Gale, Rasheeme Griffith and Miguel Nicholas qualified for the final with 3 minutes 07.23 seconds. (SAT)
