The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

MOSCOW, Russia: Newly crowned national record holder Jeffery Gibson, running out of lane one for the second time in two days at the Luzhniki Grand Sports Complex, failed to get out of the semifinal of the men's 400 metres hurdles at the 14th IAAF World Championships.

In fact, Gibson made a miscalculated error going over the first of ten hurdles and wasn't able to catch up with the rest of the field as he ended up in eight place in a time of 50.51 seconds in what turned out to be the fastest race for the year.

Cuba's Omar Cisneros posted the world's fastest time in taking the tape in 47.93 as former world and Olympic champion Felix Sanchez had to settle for second in 48.10 and American Kerron Clement trailed in 48.21 to all earn their qualifying spot in the final.

Gibson, who will celebrate his 23rd birthday on Thursday, finished at number 21 out of 23 competitors on the performance chart. He advanced out of the first round with a third place finish in his heat in 50.25.

On June 7 in Eugene, Oregon, Gibson shattered Greg Rolle's longstanding national record set back in 1983 when he lowered it from 49.46 to 49.39.

Earlier day three of the World Championships produced another historic feat for the Bahamas as Donald Thomas and Ryan Ingraham both soared their way into the final of the men's high jump.

Thomas, the 29-year-old world champion from 2007 in Osaka, Japan, led the way with a clearance of 2.29 metres or 7-feet, 6-inches, while Ryan Ingraham, the rising young 19-year-old 2012 IAAF World Junior bronze medallist, followed with a leap of 2.26m (7-5).

Their performances came during the morning session on Tuesday at the Luzhniki Grand Sports Complex, marking the first Bahamians to book their tickets into a final event here at the nine days of competition.

Thomas, who had to motivate himself after he went to his third attempt at 2.26m, was among seven other competitors who earned their berth into the final after they cleared the last qualifying height of 2.29.

Ingraham just missed out of joining the crew, but on his descend, his hip touched the bar.

He ended up being awarded one of the remaining four spots at 2.26m, to complete the field of 12 for the final.

It's the second consecutive worlds that the Bahamas will have two finalists in the men's high jump.

In 2011 in Daegu, South Korea,Trevor Barry went on to win the bronze medal - the Bahamas' only medal - while Thomas had to settle for 11th.

Although he qualified for the championships, Barry opted not to compete as he recovers from an injury.