Men's 400m hurdles gold medal winner Felix Sanchez (left) of the Dominican Republic waits for the final results with silver medal winner Danny McFarlane of Jamaica in Athens yesterday. Naman Keita of France took the bronze. (Photo: AFP)

ATHENS, Greece (CMC) -Jamaica grabbed its third medal at the Athens Olympics and the English-speaking Caribbean its sixth, when Danny McFarlane battled to a silver medal in the men's 400-metre hurdles at the Olympic Stadium last night.

World Champion Felix Sanchez scored a predictable win in a world leading time of 47.63 seconds, chased by McFarlane, who clocked 48.11.

"It's a good feeling for me," McFarlane told CMC Sport after the race. It was the first silver medal at these Athens games for the English-speaking Caribbean, adding to gold medals by Bahamian Tonique Williams-Darling (women's 400 metres) and Jamaican Veronica Campbell (200), and bronze medals by Campbell (100), Bahamian Debbie Ferguson (200) and Trinidad and Tobago's swimmer George Bovell (200 IM).

McFarlane, the oldest starter in the field at 32, rallied from a struggling position at the halfway point and ran past American James Carter down the stretch to secure the silver medal.

He felt he made a strong statement about his ability while not commanding the same kind of attention of other star athletes.
"When I came here, no one even looked at me, the media, even my own country some time, it's just all about (Asafa) Powell and (Usain) Bolt, but I understand," McFarlane said.

"I think I am a tough competitor; always compete hard and always prove them wrong and today was no different," McFarlane added.

Naman Kieta, of France, ran on strongly at the end to secure third in 48.26 seconds.

In other highlights for the region on the night, Jamaica's Maurice Wignall ran a new national record and advanced to Friday night's men's 110-metre hurdles final.

Wignall captured semi-final two in 13.17, smashing his previous national record of 13.28, and heads into the final as joint second fastest with American Terrence Trammell.

"I think I was focused today I knew that the time was going to be fast because I had to PR to get into the finals," Wignall said.

"I am very happy, I am really elated," added the 28-year-old Wignall, who won World Indoor bronze in Budapest, Hungary in March.

Frenchman Ladji Docoure won the first semi-final in a new French national record 13.06 seconds and is the quickest into the final.

The United States ran 1-2-3 in the men's 200 metres, in which Jamaican Asafa Powell was a late scratch with a hamstring strain.

Shawn Crawford won in a career-best 19.79 seconds over Bernard Williams, who equalled his personal best 20.01, with 100-metre champion Justin Gatlin, a further 0.03 seconds behind in third.

In the women's sprint relay semis, the USA - with 2000 Sydney Olympics sprint double champion Marion Jones on the backstretch leg - won heat one in an impressive 41.47 over defending champions Bahamas (43.02), and Jamaica placed second in the semi-final two in 42.20, as Russia won in 42.12.

Jamaica, resting their 200-metre Olympic gold medallist Campbell, who tearfully received her gold medal on Thursday night, used a team of Tayna Lawrence, the Sydney 100-metre bronze medallist, Sherone Simpson, Bev McDonald, and Aleen Bailey.

Jamaica's James Beckford missed a medal in the long jump final. His best jump was measured at 8.31 metres, a season's best, good enough for fourth as Americans Dwight Phillips (8.59 metres) and John Moffitt (8.47) won ahead of Spain's Lino Martinez (8.32).

The Jamaican officials were lodging a protest over Beckford's finish, claiming that Martinez's 8.32-metre jump that edged Beckford was a foul jump. A televison replay of the incident suggested the Jamaican appeal was legitimate.

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