The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

DOHA, Qatar — The buzz around the Khalifa International Stadium is not whether or not Shaunae Miller-Uibo will win her first world championship 400 metre title, but rather how fast she will run in the final on Thursday night.

In contrasting style from her opening round when she cruised in 51.30 seconds on Monday night, Tuesday night she had to do it coming from behind in her semi-final heat in 49.66 - a time she was even surprised with.

Now the stage is set for her to complete her dominance and stamp on the 17th World Championships on Thursday at precisely 3:50pm EST out of lane seven. Ahead of her will be the American defending champion Phyllis Francis, who snatched the gold from her in London, England two years ago when she faded from glory to disappointment in the final 50m in an unpredictable finish.

Running behind the Bahamian double 200/400 national record holder, who hasn’t lost a race in two years, will be American Wadeline Jonathas in six. Lane five will feature Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser with a pair of Jamaicans, Stephanie-Ann McPherson in four and Shericka Jackson in three.

The other two competitors are a duo from Poland - Iga Baumgart-Witan in two and Justyna Swiety-Ersetic in nine.

“I’m going to go out there and give it my all. I’m looking for the best,” she said. “I’m expected to go out there and try and get the title.”

In her semi-final race on day five yesterday, Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson took control of the first half of the race. The final half belonged to Miller-Uibo.

She powered ahead on the final curve and used her 6-foot, 1-inch frame to manuevre into another gear like a well-oiled machine. It was just a matter of what the gap would have been between her and the rest of the field. Still closing it down as she headed to the finish line, American Wadeline Jonathas made an attempt to close it, coming in second in a lifetime best of 50.07.

Jackson faded into third in 50.10 in what turned out to be the fastest heat of the three contested. As Miller-Uibo took the top spot overall, Jonathas got third and Jackson was fourth. Occupying the second spot was Naser.

Naser, the 21-year-old Worlds silver medallist, set the pace in winning heat one in 49.79, well ahead of Francis, who turned in a season’s best of 50.22 or second and fifth overall. McPherson won the third and final heat in 50.70 for the sixth best time.

Miller-Uibo, the 25-year-old 2016 Olympic champion, is seeking her first world championship title after she fell short with a fourth place finish in 2017 when she attempted the 200/400m double. She came back from a disaster climax at the line in the one-lap race to pick up the bronze in the half-lap race.

At these championships, her concentration is solely on the 400m and she made sure her rivals are aware of it.

“I am feeling good. I just tried to take it easy and get ready for the final,” Miller-Uibo said. “I am in great shape, so I’m looking forward to the final. I’m looking forward to going out there and getting the title.”

She admitted that after watching Jackson take the early lead, she maintained her composure and waited for the opportune time to strike. When she did, she said it was all about setting herself up for the finale in two days.

“I was expecting the time. I’m really happy with it. I’m glad we could put that time down in the semis,” said Miller-Uibo, who has a season’s best of 49.05 and a lifetime best of 48.97. “So it was relaxing for me to get ready for the final.”

With a hefty cash prize of $60,000 on the line as well for first place, Miller-Uibo said she can’t focus on anybody, but rather just take care of her own destiny. The only way to do that is to run her race.

On what will it take to win, Miller-Uibo said she’s not going to peg another time on it. She just wants to do what she has to get across the line as the world champion. With a day to recuperate from the first two rounds, Miller-Uibo hopes to be well rested to complete her mission on Thursday night.

“There are eight girls out there and they are going to be fighting for the same thing, so you can’t sleep on anybody,” Miller-Uibo noted. “My main goal is to stay as focused on my race and come out with the title.”

That will come in time, hopefully on Thursday.