TOKYO, Japan — Jamaica’s medal tally at the World Athletics Championships increased to five (1 gold, 3 silver, 1 bronze) on Tuesday after another double delight, this time in the men’s 110m hurdles final.

The country’s haul in Tokyo is not only defined by the colour of the medals themselves, but by the stories of resilience, rooted in comebacks, persistence and redemption that add another layer of shine.

Tuesday’s medallists, Orlando Bennett, a talented hurdler, who was never able to clear the semi-finals barrier, and Tyler Mason, prodigious junior-turned-journeyman, who has resurrected a career that once seemed lost after schoolboy promise quickly deteriorated into a decade of disappointment and near-abandonment, both embodied that spirit perfectly.

Bennett, competing in his third World Championships, not only made it to his first final after winning his semi-final in 13.27 seconds, he went one better by clocking the fastest time of his life, posting 13.08 seconds to win the silver medal behind American Cordell Tinch, 12.99; with Mason securing his own redemption with the bronze medal, which he claimed with a personal best-equalling time of 13.12.

Mason actually first recorded his personal best on his way to winning his semi-final 90 minutes earlier, while the other Jamaican in the event, Demario Prince, 13.22, barely missed out on advancing to the final after his third-place finish.

“I wrote on my spikes that there can be miracles when you believe,” Bennett shared. “I have been believing from day one, when I was 19 years old being at the World Championships in Doha, climbing the ranks, running against these guys, it just turned out that it took five years to get on that podium.”

“God does not make mistakes; I have learned from the failures, I have cried, I almost stopped track and field, so it’s just been a real journey and I have a lot more ways to go and I certainly hope that it’s a lot more happy endings but whatever comes, I will keep having faith, keep working hard and keep doing my best,” Bennett declared.

Mason’s path is equally inspiring.

A World Under-20 Championships silver medal winner in 2014, Mason once seemed a sure bet for senior international success before a series of persistent setbacks threw him off course. He eventually came under the guidance of Coach Reynaldo Walcott, who he credits — along with his mother — for saving his career.

“I am just relieved really, it was a crazy season but we got the job done. Jamaica got second and third and we have to give God thanks,” Mason said.

“I have been through a lot. A lot of failures, a lot of coach switches and stuff like that but I think I have found a home now with coach Walcott and I think we really understand each other, I feel like the sky is the limit,” Mason added.

Fuelled by his experiences, the 29-year-old is now determined to make the most of what is ahead of him.

“You can’t really dwell on the past, you have to keep going. That is just life, you don’t really know what is going to come so at the end of the day you just have to keep pushing.”

Men’s High Jump competitor Romaine Beckford, Jamaica’s other finalist on the day, struggled throughout the contest and failed to register a mark after missing all three attempts at his opening height of 2.20m.

“Definitely wasn’t the result I was looking for but I have to be thankful for the season I had so far, knowing that everything I went through was changing leaving from Collegiate season and now having to travel to Europe for meets,” said Beckford. “It’s really a learning experience still and I am glad I accomplished something better than the last time by progressing to the final.”

Medal favourite Shanieka Ricketts is safely through to the women’s triple jump final, so too is Ackelia Smith, who will be looking for an improved performance after falling short in the long jump. Ricketts jumped 14.30m in qualifying while Smith managed 14.21m. The women’s triple jump final takes place on Thursday at 10:55 pm (8:55 am, Jamaica time).

Meanwhile, Navasky Anderson and Tyrice Taylor are through to the semi-finals of the men’s 800m after both finished third in their respective heats. Taylor clocked 1:45.13 minutes, while Anderson ran 1:44.87 to book their lanes in the next round, which gets underway on Thursday at 9:45 pm (7:45 am, Jamaica time).

Jamaica will also have representation in the men’s and women’s 400m finals.

Rusheen McDonald, 44.06, the national record holder, showed tremendous fight and spirit to hold off the challenge of Trinidadian Jereem Richards and secure second place and an automatic lane in the final. Bovel McPherson, 44.99, ran sixth, while another youngster, Delano Kennedy, was seventh in his heat in a time of 44.97.

Nikisha Pryce clocked a season’s best 49.46 seconds in her semi-final to advance to her first final at a major international championships.

The women’s 400m final will take place on Thursday at 10:24 pm (8:24 am, Jamaica time), while the men will square off a little earlier at 10:10 pm (8:10 am).

Tyrice Taylor of Jamaica runs in the men’s 800m heat during the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, on Tuesday.

Jamaica’s Navasky Anderson races in the men’s 800m heat on Tuesday.

Jamaica’s Demario Prince leans to the finish line in the 110m hurdles semi-finals on Tuesday.