T&T's good run at the 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics in Berlin, Germany, continued yesterday with Renny Quow claiming bronze in the men's 400 metres. After powering into the final with a new personal best time of 44.53 seconds, Quow, posted a 45.02 to claim this country's second medal in two days. "I worked really hard this season," said the 23-year-old national champion. "It was not easy to do all the training and stay injury free, but I did it because I really wanted this medal. I wanted it more than I ever wanted anything before."
At the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China, Quow had qualified for the final with his previous personal best of 44.83 but failed to win a medal in the event. He stated that this was one of the major motivating factors ahead of yesterday's race. "When I made it into the final on Thursday I asked myself if I would be satisfied with that. I didn't want to be known as the guy who just makes finals. I felt that it was time for me to get a medal. This has been a good season and that was the perfect way to end it," Quow said. Olympic gold medallist LaShawn Merritt of the USA clocked the fastest time in the world this year (44.06) to win the event, while two-time defending world champion Jeremy Wariner, also of the USA, was third in 44.60.
Manager Dexter Voisin also shared his opinion on Quow's achievement. "The members of the team are very happy with what Renny achieved," said an elated Voisin. "It was just yesterday we had a team meeting talking about our performances at the championships. At that meeting I told the team that we needed to build on the good performances so far and get medals," he said. This was only the second time in the history of the World Championships–the last was at the inaugural edition in 1983–that a sub 45 wasn't required to take the bronze.
On Thursday Josanne Lucas created history when she claimed the bronze medal in the women's 400-metre hurdles. Lucas, running out of lane three, posted a new national record of 53.20 and became the first woman from T&T to win a medal at the Championships. The gold medal in the event went to Olympic champion Melaine Walker of Jamaica with the second-fastest time in history, 52.42. Lashinda Demus of the USA took the silver in 52.96.
How they finished
Name Country Time
1 LaShawn Merritt USA 44.06
2 Jeremy Wariner USA 44.60
3 Renny Quow T&T 45.02
4 Tabarie Henry ISV 45.42
5 Chris Brown BAH 45.47
6 David Gillick IRL 45.53
7 Michael Bingham GBR 45.56
8 Leslie Djhone FRA 45.90
