The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

DOHA, Qatar — For the second consecutive International Amateur Athletic Federation Worlds, sprinter Tynia Gaither has made the final of the women’s 200 metres. This time at the 17th World Championships, she has vowed to get a medal.

After a disappointing eighth place two years ago in London, England, Gaither is on the threshold of becoming the latest Bahamian to get on the podium at the two-year global meet, following Shaunae Miller-Uibo, who claimed the bronze in 2017.

After falling short in her first attempt at the 100/200 sprint double by not advancing out of the semi-final of the 100m earlier in the championships, she got some satisfaction as she made her second straight global appearance in the final eight of the 200m on Tuesday night at the Khalifa International Stadium.

The Grand Bahamian native accomplished her latest feat with a season’s best of 22.57 seconds for second place in the second of three heats behind American Brittany Brown, who won in 22.46. That placed her sixth overall in the top eight heading into tonight’s final, led by Great Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith, who took the third and final heat in 22.16.

For the 26-year-old Gaither, who was an eighth place finisher at the 2017 Worlds in London, England, the goal was to get back into the final. She did it, while fellow Bahamian Anthonique Strachan pulled up coming to the finish line in the third heat in 25.44.

“I feel a lot better than I did in the 100m,” Gaither said. “I tried to get out of lane nine before the race, but that wasn’t happening. When the race started, I knew I had to start well and I did the best I could to get off the curve.”

Down the home stretch, Gaither said she showed tremendous improvement and it made a whole lot of a difference. It got her into the final - the second Bahamian at these championships to do so. She followed about a hour before Shaunae Miller-Uibo earned her leading role into the 400m final that will be held on Thursday.

“A personal best and I want to get on the podium,” said Gaither as she looks forward to winning her first ever global medal on the senior international scene.

Two years ago, Gaither made it to the half-lap final with Miller-Uibo, who picked up a bronze medal. Miller-Uibo only concentrated on the 400m this year and is going after her first world title in the one-lap race.

The final is set for 3:35pm EST and once again, Gaither will have to do it out of lane nine, the same lane she drew in the semi-finals. She’s hoping that she can duplicate the feat with the field behind her as Bryant will be in eight, Asher-Smith in seven and Brown in six.

Note: It’s not known what condition Strachan was in following her race as she didn’t make it through the mixed zone.