Miller-Uibo fails to medal, Blake crashes out (includes wrap of Day 6, quotes)

LONDON, (CMC) – Caribbean athletes endured a disastrous day at the IAAF World Championships here Wednesday, as Olympic champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo suffered a dramatic defeat in the women’s 400 metres final and all but one of the region’s men failed to make it to the final of the 200 metres.
On a rain-drenched night at the Olympic Stadium, Bahamian Miller-Uibo appeared to pull her right hamstring as she streaked to victory. She then lost control with 15 metres to go and could only finish fourth in 50.49 seconds.
Her demise was to American Phyllis Francis’s advantage as she took victory in a personal best 49.92 seconds, ahead of Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser in 50.06, with American star Allyson Felix third in 50.08.
The 23-year-old Miller-Uibo, the heavy favourite entering the contest, dominated the early phase of the race. Running out of lane seven, she stormed down the backstretch, ran a superb curve before coming into the stretch five metres in front.
She seemed to have the race sewn up when she suddenly pulled up, stumbled before dragging herself across the line.
The Jamaican trio of Shericka Jackson (50.76), Stephenie Ann McPherson (50.86) and Novlene Williams-Mills (51.48) were fifth, sixth and eighth respectively.
Despite the disappointment, Jackson said she had given the race her all.
“I went in as the fastest loser. I came fifth today,” she said. “I wanted to come better than that but I worked for fifth therefore there is nothing else I could have done.”
Williams-Mills added: “I didn’t go as planned but at the end of the day, there is nothing I can do.”
Meanwhile, for the first time in six championships, Jamaica will be without a men’s 200m finalist after their main hope Yohan Blake crashed out at the semi-final stage.
He finished third in semi-final two in 20.54 while fellow Jamaican Rasheed Dwyer clocked 20.69 in finishing last in the first semi-final.
The region’s hopes for last evening’s final rested with Trinidad and Tobago’s Jereem Richards, who looked to be in very good shape in winning the second semi in 20.14 seconds.
Trinidadian Kyle Greaux (20.65) and Guyana’s Winston George (20.74) both also missed out on the final.