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RAYMOND GRAHAM, Star Writer
Brigitte Foster-Hylton of Jamaica (right) and compatriot Vonnette Dixon react after their semi-final of the women's 100-metre hurdles at the Beijing Olympics. - AP photos
THE Olympic Games is now over and Jamaica has ended with its best ever medal haul - six gold, three silver and two bronze. There could have been an extra medal but, unfortunately, there was a mishap in the women's 4x100 metres relay on the third leg while leading.
It is a fact that the medallists will be given all of the accolades, but those who reached the finals of their events must not be left out, for to reach the final of an event at the Olympic Games is a monumental achievement, as this is the highest sporting showpiece in the universe. Jamaica had 12 athletes reaching the finals, but didn't medal, in their events and they, too, should be commended. These included the likes of Chelsea Hammond, Delloreen Ennis-London, Brigitte Foster-Hylton, Kenia Sinclair, Trecia Smith, Danny McFarlane, Markino Buckley, Richard Phillips, Maurice Wignall and Maurice Smith.
Wild card
Hammond, who had only attained the Qualifying 'B' standard in the long jump, only went to the Games as a wild card, but she saved her best performance for the world stage as the former University of South Carolina graduate produced a career-best of 6.79 metres to finish just out of the medals as she ended fourth for Jamaica's best ever performance by a woman at these Games in this event.
After mining silver at the World Indoors Track and Field Championships in the 800 metres two years ago, Sinclair, competing against the odds in an event which has not been kind to Jamaica over the years, produced a season best one minute 58.24 seconds to finish sixth in her pet event, the best ever result for Jamaica at the Olympic Games in this event.
Going into these Games, there were many who thought that both Ennis-London and Foster-Hylton would have left with medals, as they had good results leading up to the Games, and with their experience, they were expected to do very well. This event is a very technical one and the past two Olympic Games have seen where the favourites had mishaps after looking like getting the gold medal. This one was not different as after producing a world leading time in the semi-final and looking like a winner in the final, the United States Lolo Jones clipped the ninth hurdle after leading and failed to be among the medals. Ennis -London (12.65) and Foster-Hylton (12.66) finished fifth and sixth respectively. Very unfortunate indeed as the silver and bronze medallist in this event had times of 12.64 seconds which shows how competitive this event was.
After a golden performance at the World Championships in 2005 where she won a gold medal in the women's triple jump, Trecia Smith suffered a major back injury last year in trying to defend her title in Osaka and was out for nearly a year. However, she made herself and country proud by reaching the final of her pet event in the Olympics where she had a mark of 14.12 metres for an 11th place finish.
Season best
Among the men, veteran Danny McFarlane led the way for those who did not medal. After a silver medal in the 400 metres hurdles at the previous Olympics, McFarlane ran his heart out to produce a season best 48.30 seconds to finish fourth, just missing out on a medal. In this event, Buckley also did well by finishing seventh in 48.60 seconds. Earlier in his semi-final, he produced a career best of 48.50 seconds.
Both Richard Phillips, the National 110 metres champion, and Maurice Wignall were not given chances to advance from their preliminary round from their events after average season performances. Both athletes, however, turned their form around to reach the final, the first time Jamaica was having two finalists in this event at an Olympic Games. Wignall, who missed out on a medal in Athens after finishing a close fourth, ended sixth in 13.46 seconds. He did a season best 13.36 seconds in the preliminary round to advance. Phillips finished seventh in 13.60 seconds after producing a season best 13.46 seconds in his semi-final.
For Asafa Powell, it was a big disappointment for many as being the former world record holder in the 100 metres and the man with the most sub-10 times there were many who expected him to challenge Usain Bolt for the title. In one of the biggest shocks of the Olympics, Powell, who finished fifth four years ago, had the same result this time around in a time of 9.95 seconds. His teammate Michael Frater produced his best 100 metres run as he had a personal best of 9.97 seconds to finish sixth in his event. This was the first time Frater was breaking the 10-second barrier and what a stage to do this.
Last but not least , last year's World Championships silver medallist in the decathlon, Maurice Smith, failed to produce that form but he was not disgraced as he ended ninth in his event which is the most gruelling event in athletics.
Danny McFarlane lies on the track after finishing fourth in the men's 400m hurdles final at the Beijing Olympics. - Charles Pitt
Jamaica's Chelsea Hammond competes in the long jump final at the Beijing Olympics.
Jamaica's Maurice Smith makes an attempt in the shot put of the men's decathlon during the athletics competitions in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympics. - AP
Richard Phillips (left) and Maurice Wignall in the 110m hurdles final at the Beijing Olympics. - Charles Pitt
Brigitte Foster-Hylton of Jamaica (right) and compatriot Vonnette Dixon react after their semi-final of the women's 100-metre hurdles at the Beijing Olympics. - AP photos
THE Olympic Games is now over and Jamaica has ended with its best ever medal haul - six gold, three silver and two bronze. There could have been an extra medal but, unfortunately, there was a mishap in the women's 4x100 metres relay on the third leg while leading.
It is a fact that the medallists will be given all of the accolades, but those who reached the finals of their events must not be left out, for to reach the final of an event at the Olympic Games is a monumental achievement, as this is the highest sporting showpiece in the universe. Jamaica had 12 athletes reaching the finals, but didn't medal, in their events and they, too, should be commended. These included the likes of Chelsea Hammond, Delloreen Ennis-London, Brigitte Foster-Hylton, Kenia Sinclair, Trecia Smith, Danny McFarlane, Markino Buckley, Richard Phillips, Maurice Wignall and Maurice Smith.
Wild card
Hammond, who had only attained the Qualifying 'B' standard in the long jump, only went to the Games as a wild card, but she saved her best performance for the world stage as the former University of South Carolina graduate produced a career-best of 6.79 metres to finish just out of the medals as she ended fourth for Jamaica's best ever performance by a woman at these Games in this event.
After mining silver at the World Indoors Track and Field Championships in the 800 metres two years ago, Sinclair, competing against the odds in an event which has not been kind to Jamaica over the years, produced a season best one minute 58.24 seconds to finish sixth in her pet event, the best ever result for Jamaica at the Olympic Games in this event.
Going into these Games, there were many who thought that both Ennis-London and Foster-Hylton would have left with medals, as they had good results leading up to the Games, and with their experience, they were expected to do very well. This event is a very technical one and the past two Olympic Games have seen where the favourites had mishaps after looking like getting the gold medal. This one was not different as after producing a world leading time in the semi-final and looking like a winner in the final, the United States Lolo Jones clipped the ninth hurdle after leading and failed to be among the medals. Ennis -London (12.65) and Foster-Hylton (12.66) finished fifth and sixth respectively. Very unfortunate indeed as the silver and bronze medallist in this event had times of 12.64 seconds which shows how competitive this event was.
After a golden performance at the World Championships in 2005 where she won a gold medal in the women's triple jump, Trecia Smith suffered a major back injury last year in trying to defend her title in Osaka and was out for nearly a year. However, she made herself and country proud by reaching the final of her pet event in the Olympics where she had a mark of 14.12 metres for an 11th place finish.
Season best
Among the men, veteran Danny McFarlane led the way for those who did not medal. After a silver medal in the 400 metres hurdles at the previous Olympics, McFarlane ran his heart out to produce a season best 48.30 seconds to finish fourth, just missing out on a medal. In this event, Buckley also did well by finishing seventh in 48.60 seconds. Earlier in his semi-final, he produced a career best of 48.50 seconds.
Both Richard Phillips, the National 110 metres champion, and Maurice Wignall were not given chances to advance from their preliminary round from their events after average season performances. Both athletes, however, turned their form around to reach the final, the first time Jamaica was having two finalists in this event at an Olympic Games. Wignall, who missed out on a medal in Athens after finishing a close fourth, ended sixth in 13.46 seconds. He did a season best 13.36 seconds in the preliminary round to advance. Phillips finished seventh in 13.60 seconds after producing a season best 13.46 seconds in his semi-final.
For Asafa Powell, it was a big disappointment for many as being the former world record holder in the 100 metres and the man with the most sub-10 times there were many who expected him to challenge Usain Bolt for the title. In one of the biggest shocks of the Olympics, Powell, who finished fifth four years ago, had the same result this time around in a time of 9.95 seconds. His teammate Michael Frater produced his best 100 metres run as he had a personal best of 9.97 seconds to finish sixth in his event. This was the first time Frater was breaking the 10-second barrier and what a stage to do this.
Last but not least , last year's World Championships silver medallist in the decathlon, Maurice Smith, failed to produce that form but he was not disgraced as he ended ninth in his event which is the most gruelling event in athletics.
Danny McFarlane lies on the track after finishing fourth in the men's 400m hurdles final at the Beijing Olympics. - Charles Pitt
Jamaica's Chelsea Hammond competes in the long jump final at the Beijing Olympics.
Jamaica's Maurice Smith makes an attempt in the shot put of the men's decathlon during the athletics competitions in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympics. - AP
Richard Phillips (left) and Maurice Wignall in the 110m hurdles final at the Beijing Olympics. - Charles Pitt