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By Neto Baptiste
Antigua and Barbuda’s Darion Skerritt braved injury on Wednesday to fly the country’s flag in the Men’s 200 meters event the World Athletics Championships being held in Tokyo, Japan but bowed out of the event after finishing ninth in heat number six.
The Jamaica-based sprinter clocked 30.18 seconds in the race won by Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo in a time of 20.18 seconds. Xavi Mo-Ajok of the Netherlands clocked 20.35 in the second position while Japan’s Towa Uzawa was third in a time of 20.39 seconds.
According to coach, Jamille Nelson, Skerritt complained of cramps during his warm up but opted to compete after further assessment. However, the ‘discomfort’ returned during the race, forcing the Antiguan to drastically reduce his pace heading into the turn.
Skerritt, who trains with Swept Track Club in Kingston, Jamaica, received a universality or wildcard slot to attend the championships. The 24-year-old athlete, with a personal best of 20.67, accepted the gift after it was turned down by senior national sprinter Cejhae Greene who is still recovering from a hamstring injury.
Antigua and Barbuda’s lone outright qualifier for the championships, women’s sprinter Joella Lloyd, also opted out due to a shin injury. Lloyd clocked 11.01 seconds in May this year which secured her qualification for the World Athletics Championships.
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