media_artricles :: 2015

Screeching halt!

Grateful Thomas out at first hurdle

Mikel Thomas looked skywards as he crossed the finish line at the Bird's Nest Stadium here in Beijing, China, yesterday.

But the Trinidad and Tobago athlete's acknowledgement of God at the end of his IAAF World Championship men's 110 metres hurdles first-round heat had nothing to do with victory or a fast time.

After hitting the first hurdle hard, Thomas stumbled and fell into barrier number two. He lay flat on his chest, but with hopes of advan­cing to the semi-final round dashed, he courageously lifted himself off the Mondo track and proceeded to go over the remaining hurdles.

The 2015 North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) champion crossed the line eighth, and last, in 22.71 seconds, more than nine seconds slower than the 13.17 national record that had earned him silver at last month's Pan American Games.

Having crashed into the second hurdle hands first, Thomas was subsequently disqualified from heat one under rule 168.7(b): “An athlete shall be disqualified, if in the opinion of the referee, he deliberately knocks down any hurdle.”

Thomas told the Express though his World Champion­ship campaign promised much before coming to a screeching halt yesterday, he was indeed a grateful man.

“Last year this time, I was homeless. I came back with a full heart, in the right place. I wasn't chasing any money, I wasn't chasing any fame. I was doing it for the love of sport, and it has been the most consistent and fruitful year. It's been a blessing. But I feel this is just the precedent for some greater things to come.

“Now I know what it's like to be a champion, now I know what it's like to compete at the highest stage and medal. I brought Trinidad and Tobago three medals this year. I never even made a final (before), and I gave them three. I'm honoured, and I know there's more in store.”

In addition to his NACAC gold, in a meet record time of 13.23 seconds, and the Pan Am silver, Thomas was part of the 4x100m squad that bagged bronze at the Pan Am meet. He ran in the qualifying round, but made way for Keston Bledman in the final.

Gold, silver and bronze for Thomas at Pan Am and NACAC. There would be no precious metal, however, at the World Championships for the 27-year-old sprint hurdler.

“That's part of the hurdles, man. Stuff like this happens. It's not what we want. It's been a great season leading up into here. I was ready but it's just not for me, today. Still very grateful for all the support that has come for this year. We've done ama­zing things for Trinidad and Tobago.

“My heart is full and, of course, severely disappointed. No one wants to fall, but many greats have fallen before me, and that's the mark of a hurdles champion. You rise. Seven times fall, eight times rise. God's not finished. We'll be back. I feel physically at my best. If granted another opportunity to race, whether Diamond League or one of the other meets in Europe, I'll rock it. I promise you, I'll do an amazing job.”

Thomas said it was very important to complete the World Championship first-round race.

“My heart was hea­vy,” said Thomas, before pausing for a deep breath, “but we're professionals. This is what we do. And this is for Trinidad and Tobago. If there's some young fella or girl that sees this, some athlete anywhere in the world, they need to know they can rise again. Adversity happens. We will fall down, but we have to be able to stand up.

“I didn't come here for a vacation. I didn't come here to sightsee. I came here to compete, and I owed it at least to myself and to God to finish the race.”

While Operation Beijing might have ended prematurely for Thomas, the 2015 season is undoubtedly his best ever. He rates the Pan Am silver at the top of his achievement list this year.

“That race was crazy. We fell, there was a recall, there was so much going on. There was so much emotion in that race, and my family was in the stands as well. NACAC was a really good lesson as well because that was the first time I was expected to win. It was a good test for me to see how I perform with high expectations. I was able to go there, win, set a record, come in here with great momentum.”

Of the athletes who faced the starter in the men's sprint hurdles first round here in Beijing, Thomas was joint-ninth fastest this season, with France's Garfield Darien, at 13.17. The lone T&T entrant certainly had a good shot at reaching the final. What he might have done had he progressed to the championship race is anybody's guess.

The dream, however, is over. He must now shift his focus to next year's Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

“If that's to be it where I'll be Olympic champion, all glory to God. But I know I will give my very best effort every time I step on the track. That, I can guarantee.”

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