The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

DOHA, Qatar — Despite battling a case of the flu, Steven Gardiner had a smooth and relaxed victory in heat five of the men’s 400 metres, securing him a berth into the semi-final on day five of the International Amateur Athletic Federation’s 17th World Championships.

Playing the mind game as they cruised through the first round at the Khalifa International Stadium, Gardiner got out on top of his heat on the back stretch and, as he came on the home stretch, he had built up such a significant lead that he was able to coast home in 45.87, holding off a late surge from Canada’s Philip Osei.

“I felt pretty good. Me and my coach (Gary Evans) talked over our race plan. We didn’t want to go out there and run anything crazy, but if someone wanted to go and run crazy, I will let them go and come second,” said Gardiner, who was taking it a bit cautious having picked up a flu virus since he arrived here.

“I just wanted to qualify. I ran a smooth race. I didn’t get to use too much of my kick. I saved it for tomorrow.”

In the semi-finals today, Gardiner admits that it won’t be easy as Grenada’s Kirani James is back in action. The 27-year-old, who became the youngest world champion at age 18 in 2011, took the fastest qualifying time of 44.94 over 21-year-old world leader Michael Norman of the United States, who did 45.00.

Gardiner, 24, and James will go head-to-head in the second of three heats at 2:43pm EST.

Gardiner will trail in lane five with James ahead of him in six. The top two in each heat and the next two fastest losing finishers will complete the field for the final at 3:20pm on Friday.

While James will be on his quest to add to the Olympic Games’ title he won in 2012 in London, England, and the silver in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2016, Gardiner will be out to get into the final and try to return to the podium for the second straight championships after getting a silver in 2017 in London, England.

“The semi-finals is always the hardest round, so I know I will have to run it like a final,” Gardiner projected.

He will need to duplicate that type of performance he turned in the first round when he caught the field coming off the first curve and surged out front. On the back stretch, he maintained a comfortable position and used his lanky 6-foot, 2-inch frame to accelerate off the final curve. As he powered down the home stretch, Gardiner slowed down as he loooked around at his competitors and coasted home for the easy win.

“I feel pretty good. I’m still getting over the flu,” he said.

“My breathing is much better. So let’s suck it up and go.”

With James as a potential to challenge for one of the medals here, Gardiner said he’s looking forward to the match-up. “It’s pretty good. Everybody is ready to run,” he pointed out.

“So I am looking to be competitive too.”

At the end of the championships, Gardiner said he hopes to make every Bahamian proud of his accomplishment at the global event in Qatar.