The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

DOHA, Qatar — Shaunae Miller-Uibo made her 400 metres debut at the International Amateur Athletic Federation’s 17th World Championships look so easy.

After making up the stagger from the first bend, Miller-Uibo went into overdrive on the back stretch and was so comfortable in the lead going onto the final bend.

On the home stretch, she was so far ahead that by the time she reached the 50m mark, Miller-Uibo shut it down and coasted home in 51.30 seconds. That placed her ninth overall in the field of six heats, but the goal was just for the 6-foot, 1-inch Miller-Uibo to move on to the semi-final without exerting too much energy.

“It was good. I just want to give God all thanks and praise. I finished healthy. Our main goal was to finish as easy as we could and we couldn’t finish any easier than that.”

It was so easy that after she crossed the line, her nearest rival, Déborah Sananes of France, could do no better than 51.67 that was 28th place overall.

American Wadeline Jonathas had the fastest qualifying time of 50.57 in winning heat two, while Phyllis Francis, the reigning world champion also from the USA, posted the fourth best mark of 50.77.

Unbeaten since she blew a huge lead down the stretch in the final and ended up in fourth place in 2017 in London, England, Miller-Uibo will only be competing in the one-lap race this year. She served notice of what to expect as she left the field in her heat way behind.

Sananes tried to touch at the end, but her time of 51.76 wasn’t even close.

Today at 11:52am EST, Miller-Uibo will be back to do it all over again.

“The plan was to come out here and run as relaxed as possible and we set it up as best as we could,” Miller-Uibo said.

“I’m really excited. I got through the heats and now it’s on to the semis.”

Miller-Uibo, 25, will have to finish as one of first two finishers or secure one of the next two fastest losing times when the semis get underway.

She will run out of lane six in the second of three heats that will include one of her Jamaican rivals Shericka Jackson in seven and Jonathas in four.

The 2016 Olympic champion noted that she hopes that she can inspire the country, having gone through the passing of Hurricane Dorian, which left significant death and damages in Abaco and parts of Grand Bahama.

“Our main job out here is to just do our best and see what happens,” said Miller-Uibo, who declined to make any predictions on what time she will need to run to advance.

Looking ahead to the future of athletics in the country, Miller-Uibo said she was delighted to see 17-year-old Grand Bahamian Terrance Jones make his senior debut in the men’s 200m.

Although he didn’t get out of the preliminary rounds after being disqualified in his heat, Miller-Uibo said she’s confident that he will have a bright future ahead of him.