DERRON Herah, the coach and husband of World Athletics Championships 100m bronze medal-winner Elaine Thompson-Herah, is brushing aside doubts over his coaching ability and described the sprinter’s first world 100m podium finish as a special moment.

Thompson-Herah’s decision before the start of the season to leave the MVP Track and Field Club and her long-time coach, the legendary Stephen Francis, and entrust her career to her relatively inexperienced husband, was met with scepticism from a large section of the track and field community.

She clocked 10.81 seconds for Sunday’s third-place finish in the 100m final which was swept by Jamaicans, with Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce taking the gold in a championship record 10.68 seconds and Shericka Jackson (10.73 personal best) winning silver.

To some, the result was vindication for the 30-year-old sprinter but her partner, while underlining the value of the medal, was quick to point out that he was never concerned with the question marks that surrounded him.

“Yes, this is special indeed. It is her first one and I am grateful to have been a part of it. Success is relative to perspective,” Herah told the Jamaica Observer.

“I don’t read much into doubt and controversy because without proper information those can be very misleading. Success is relative to the situation and goals. I just saw this as an episode in the larger scheme of things,” Herah added.

Prior to taking over coaching duties for his wife, Herah coached the boys’ team at St Jago High School and was also a member of the coaching set-up at Cameron Blazers Track Club.

“We are definitely grateful for getting on the podium. We always go out to win no matter what the situation or circumstances are, but everyone came for the same thing and we are in an era where you have to be at your very best every time you line up. Two awesome athletes were better on the day so we have to just quickly get past that and move on to the next. Great athletes, win or lose, have to have a very short memory,” Herah reasoned.

Thompson-Herah turned her attention to the 200m with yesterday’s heats at Hayward Field, advancing to the semi-finals with a second-place finish in a time of 22.41 seconds.

Her coach is looking forward to the possibilities in the half-lap event and believes the two-time double Olympic sprint champion has a good chance to deliver a special result.

“Well Elaine is still Elaine and she is a fighter and she will continue to do great things — that is the message I take from it [her 100m performance],” Herah said.

“I am positive, as always, about the 200m and what I do know is that anything is possible when the time is right.”

Thompson-Herah has so far gone 22.05 seconds in the 200m this season, way off her personal best time of 21.53 seconds which was done last year.