Kirani James puts aside disappointment, focused on Olympics

                       

by Michael Bascombe

Reporting from Istanbul, Turkey

ISTANBUL, Turkey, March 11, 2012 – World 400-metre champion Kirani James of Grenada has thrown the disappointment of his world indoor championship campaign behind him and looking forward to the outdoor season culminating with the Olympic Games in London.

James who lost a bid to add the world indoor title to his recent achievements acknowledged his defeat but ready to move forward.

“Things didn’t go as planned this weekend but hats off to the competition though; they (competitors) did a pretty good job themselves,” he said in a short message on social media.

‘I always think god lets certain things happen for a reason, in this case for me to reassess some things in my current life and prioritise.”

However, he said he appreciates the support and encouragement he has received since he failed to medal in the final on Saturday.

“It shows that I have a lot of genuine people who cares about my well-being,” he said. “

He said that he is returning to his training base in Tuscaloosa, Alabama “to get some rest, recover, refresh and reset.”

“Big up ‘greenz’ (Grenada) and everyone who truly cares,” the message ended.

Nery Brenes of Costa Rica won his first ever medal at the IAAF World Indoor Championships in a new championship record of 45.11 seconds.

Bahamians Demetrius Pinder and Chris Brown took the silver and bronze respectively while James finished sixth.

Caribbean athletes picked up two medals on the final day of competition. Veronica Campbell Brown successfully defended her 60m title in a world leading 7.01 seconds to take the gold medal. Chandra Sturrup of the Bahamas was fifth in a season’s best 7.19 and Aileen Bailey of Jamaica seventh in 7.24.

Trinidad and Tobago’s quartet of Lalonde Gordon, Renny Quow, Jereem Richards and Jarrin Solomon copped the bronze medal in a new national record of 3:06.85. The United States and Great Britain took the gold and silver respectively.

In other events, Trevor Barry of the Bahamas was eighth in the men’s high jump and his compatriot Bianca Stuart also finished eighth in the women’s long jump.