TOKYO, Japan — Jamaica’s medal tally at the World Athletics Championships climbed to six on Wednesday, with long jumper Tajay Gayle battling through a bothersome hamstring issue to secure second place at the Japan National Stadium.

The 2019 world champion showed grit and determination and shared that a sore hamstring — the lingering effects of a Grade 2 strain that kept him out of action for a considerable portion of the season, and a back niggle towards the end of his series, forced him to dig deeper and limited his ability to push even harder.

“Being on the podium honestly is a very good feeling,” Gayle said with relief. “It’s great to have three medals now for Jamaica — gold, silver, and bronze. I was hoping for the gold really but unfortunately my hamstring was not giving me much today. I tried my best to get it on the first jump because I knew after that I probably wouldn’t have much to offer.”

And tried he did.

Gayle opened his series with an 8.33m effort, laying down an early marker and applying pressure to the rest of the field. Bronze medal winner China’s Yuhao Shi surprised by matching Gayle’s mark in the following round, before the Jamaican responded in round 4, with a slight improvement to 8.34m, his best distance of the season.

Italian Mattia Furlani took the lead in round 5, jumping to a personal best 8.39m, a distance that would eventually win him the gold medal.

“It was a great competition, the Italian, he deserved it, but myself and Jamaica would have loved the gold. The Italian did it and it brought a lot of motivation to me but my hamstring wasn’t giving me anything so I said OK, I tried my best,” Gayle shared. “But after three medals, I can’t complain.”

Gayle shared that he believes he could have jumped further had he not lost precious preparation time to the injury.

“I think the injury set me back a bit because I had the potential to jump a lot further than 8.30m. It was my first serious hamstring injury, it’s my first Grade 2 strain, I have never had a Grade 2 strain before, so it was a very nerve-racking injury and then it took a lot longer than I expected to heal.”

Still, Gayle sees his campaign as a huge success.

“It was a very great season because I wasn’t really under much stress like I’d normally be, mentally and physically,” he said. “My body was okay and my mind was okay, so it was mostly smooth sailing for me throughout the season, it’s just that the injury set me back. My plan for the season was to get 8.40m or 8.50m and I knew I could, but the injury set me back and I am grateful to have overcome and show Jamaica that I am still here.”

His was the only final on the day that involved Jamaicans but several others delivered impressive performances on Wednesday, advancing in their respective events.

Jordan Scott has been demanding attention through his performances all season and advanced to Friday’s men’s triple jump final scheduled for 8:50 pm (6:50 am), with the second best qualifying mark — 17.19m, achieved on his second attempt.

Shiann Salmon will be Jamaica’s lone representative in the Women’s 400m Hurdles final, finishing second in her semi-final with her best time this season, 54.03 seconds. Andrenette Knight, 54.35, a finalist in 2023 in Budapest, disappointed with a fifth-place finish, and failed to advance to the medal round.

Salmon was obviously thrilled with the progression.

“I am elated, this season has come with a lot of challenges and I am just grateful that God helped me tonight and I was able to make the final,” Salmon said.

The men’s and women’s 200m also saw safe passage for most Jamaicans with all three men booking places in the semi-final and two women securing lanes in the next round.

Bryan Levell made quite the statement, winning his heat in the easiest-looking 19.84 seconds you will see, confirming his status as a big gold-medal prospect, while Adrian Kerr, 20.12, and Christopher Taylor, with a 20.26 personal best, both advanced with third-place finishes in their respective heats.

The men’s 200m semi-final will take place on Thursday at 9:02 pm (7:02 am Jamaica time).

In the women’s equivalent, Shericka Jackson delivered a business-like performance, cruising to a 22.33 seconds victory in her heat; the third-fastest time in qualifying. Ashanti Moore, 22.57, ran second in her heat and was also safely through to Thursday’s semi-final at 9:24 pm (7:24 am) but Jamaica’s third competitor Gabrielle Matthews found the going tough, and could only manage a seventh-place finish in 23.40.

“It was good, I think I executed a good race and that’s all that matters. My preparation was good, all I have to do is to continue trusting in God and myself. Now I have to try and recover as best as possible and come out here tomorrow and do what I came here to do,” Moore said.

“I am just very happy that I am here, I earned my own spot and I know I have to do things differently.”

Despite running a season’s best 48.01 seconds, Malik James-King’s fourth-place finish in the men’s 400m hurdles was not enough to see him through, while Roshawn Clarke, also failed to move into the final after also running fourth in 48.37.

Thursday’s sixth day of competition will see several other Jamaicans in action.

Lamara Distin will get her campaign started in the women’s high jump qualifying round, which starts at 7:15 pm (5:15 am), followed by Adelle Tracey, Kelly-Ann Beckford and Natoya Goule-Toppin in the heats of the women’s 800m, starting at 7:58 pm (5:58 am).

Four Jamaicans will compete for medals today — Shanieka Ricketts and Ackelia Smith will feature in the women’s triple jump final at 8:55 pm (6:55 am).

At 10:10 pm (8:10a m), Rusheen McDonald will line up in the men’s 400m final — his first; while Nikisha Pryce will compete in the female equivalent at 10:24 pm (8:24 am).

US’ athlete Dalilah Muhammad (centre) and Jamaica’s Shiann Salmon (right) compete in the women’s 400m hurdles heats during the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan on Wednesday.AFP

Tajay Gayle shows off his silver medal after the men’s long jump final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, on Wednesday.Photo: Garfield Robinson