'That's awesome' - Hinds overwhelmed by achievement in steeplechase

Elton Tucker, Assistant Editor - Sport

KORENE HINDS clocked a national record 9:33.30 to place fourth in the women's 3000m steeplechase final at the IAAF World Athletics Championships, in the Helsinki Olympic Stadium last night.

Former national record holder Mardrea Hyman fell during the event - which is making its debut at the 10th World Championships - and ended up in eighth spot.

The gold medal went to Ugandan Docus Inzikuro in a championship record 9:18.24. Russia's Yekaterina Volkova was second in 9:20.49 and bronze went to Kenya's Jeruto Kiptum in 9:26.95.

Hinds was very satisfied with her performance.

"I am very happy. I ran the national record and personal best. That's awesome! There were no predictions before the race. I went into the event saying wherever I finish I would be happy," Hinds, a former St. Jago High athlete, said.

Both Jamaicans are training partners and are now being coached by Kenyan long distance great Henry Rono.

Jamaica failed to gain a finalist in the women's 400m at the championships for the first time in 12 years.

National champion Shericka Williams and 2003 silver medallist Lorraine Fenton were both eliminated in the semi-finals.

Williams has not been eating well since arriving here early last week.

"The food here gave me an upset stomach," she said. "Everything I eat I am just bringing it back up, I am not sure why."

Williams who ran at 9 p.m. here last night, went into yesterday's race with an empty stomach.

Fenton is still bothered by the injury which kept her out of last year's Olympics.

"I think I did okay overall here," the two-time World Championships 400m silver medallist said. "I trained fairly well but the injury is still preventing me from doing speed work."

Williams, 52.44, was sixth in semi-final one won in 50.05 by Jamaica-born American Sanya Richards.

Fenton placed fifth in semi-final two in 51.48 behind Russian winner Svetlana Pospelova, 50.34.

The fastest going into the final is Bahamian Olympic champion Tonique Williams-Darling, who took the third and final semi-final in a season-best 49.69.

IN ACTION TODAY

Women

100m hurdles: Brigitte Foster-Hylton, Delloreen Ennis-London, Vonette Dixon

Long jump: Elva Goulbourne

Men

200m: Usain Bolt, Chris Williams, Omar Brown

400m: Brandon Simpson, Lansford Spence, Michael Blackwood.

Decathlon: Maurice Smith, Claston Bernard.