Blogs

Golden Brathwaite delivers Barbados's first world medal

Posted by CaribShout on August 24, 2009 at 7:31pm

Barbados' Ryan Brathwaite celebrates after winning the men's 110m hurdles final race of the 2009 IAAF Athletics World Championships in Berlin. AFP PHOTO BERLIN, Germany (AFP) -- Ryan Brathwaite gave Barbados their first ever medal at the world championships in style here on Thursday when he won the men's 110 metre hurdles title. The 21-year-old timed a national record of 13.14 seconds to see off American duo Terrence Trammell (13.15sec), who was collecting his fifth silver medal at the worlds and Olympics combined, while Olympic silver medalist David Payne took bronze, also in 13.15sec. Brathwaite was overjoyed at delivering the Caribbean island their first ever medal. "This is just great. It did happen," said Brathwaite, who reached the Olympic semi-finals last year. "I am very happy. My dream really has come true. Barbados is only a small country but I showed the world who I am. "At the first hurdle I thought I do not have this race anymore but then I fought and fought to the end and the gold was mine." Trammell accepted that again he had just fallen short. "It was not good. I hit the last hurdle and it slowed me down. I cannot afford to do this - especially at a world championships," he said. Payne for his part didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "I don't know if I am happy or disappointed," said the 27-year-old. In a thrilling final, which was missing Olympic champion and world record holder Dayron Robles, who pulled up injured in his semi-final on Thursday, and China's Liu Xiang who is still recovering from injury, it was Payne who led out of the blocks. The 27-year-old Payne opened up a sizeable advantage as Trammell hit the first hurdle taking some momentum out of the 30-year-old's progress while Brathwaite didn't get the best of starts. Payne looked destined for gold halfway through the race but it was from there that both Trammell and Brathwaite started to eat into his lead. Over the last and all three were virtually in a line and duly hit the finishing line three abreast with Brathwaite doing just enough to get the nod ahead of the Americans. Great Britain's surprise package William Sharman ran a personal best of 13.30sec to take fourth, albeit a sizeable margin behind the trio. Jamaica's Commonwealth Games champion Maurice Wignall was fifth in a season's best time of 13.31sec. Earlier, Robles had pulled up injured after the third hurdle of his semi-final. The 22-year-old - who had hinted at pulling out after the heats on Wednesday - clattered the first three hurdles and, in pain, gave up.

Community

Culture

Entertainment

Food

Health