Annsert Whyte ran his third-consecutive personal best but had to settle for fifth spot in the thrilling final of the men’s 400m hurdles, in which four men dipped under 48 seconds at the Olympic Stadium, yesterday in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Whyte’s final time was of 48.07 seconds.

Whyte, who came into the final with the second-fastest time of 48.32 seconds, cleared the final hurdle in third spot behind Kerron Clement of the United States of America (USA) and Boniface Tumuti of Kenya, but was passed by both Yasmai Copello of Turkey and Ireland’s Thomas Barr.

The American Clement, who was born in Trinidad and Tobago, won in a season’s best 47.73 seconds ahead of Tumuti, who established a national Kenyan record of 47.78 seconds. Bronze medallist Copello set a Turkish national record of 47.92 seconds. Fourth-placed athlete Thomas Barr of Ireland also broke his national record clocking 47.97 seconds.

Whyte started well from lane six, but immediately Clement, running out of lane five, was up on his shoulder and went by at the halfway mark, at which point Tumuti was also going well on Whyte’s outside, assuming second spot as they swung into the straight.

With Clement and Tumuti pulling away from him, Whyte looked safe for the bronze medal, but that was not to be as both Copello and Barr finished fast and went by the tiring Whyte close to home.

Whyte, 28, is now the fifth-fastest Jamaican of all time behind national record holder Winthrop Graham (47.60), Danny McFarlene (48.00), Kemel Thompson (48.05) and Isa Phillips (48.05).

“I am just happy that I made the final and came out with a personal best in my first Olympics,” said Whyte.

Whyte, who started 2016 with a season’s best of 48.90 seconds and a personal best of 48.58 seconds established in 2014, lowered those to 48.38 seconds in the heats, before dipping to 48.32 seconds in the semi-finals. He once again lowered that to 48.07 seconds and said he didn’t expect such improvements under new coach Gregory Little.

“No, I didn’t expect that because I started the season good, got injured, came back, had a different coach, and it was kind of hard at first.

“We worked together, we came here with a goal and we accomplished it.

“We wanted a medal, but we got something [else], a personal best,” he noted.

Whyte who reached the semi-final of the IAAF World Championship in 2013 and 2015, said he has been enjoying his time in Rio.

“I have been having a great Olympics and I wanted to win a medal and it didn’t work out. But God provided me with a big personal, so I am grateful for that,” said Whyte.

As for his race plan, Whyte said he would do the same thing all over again.

“I couldn’t do anything different, that’s how it is.

“I gave it my heart and I just have to be grateful I finished the race injury-free”.

The Jamaican national champion will now turn his focus on the international circuit before getting back to training.

“I am grateful that I am here. Grateful that I performed and came out with a very good time, and hopefully I will touch the circuit and get some races,” he revealed.