There is a storm brewing at the World Championships in Doha, Qatar and the Trinidad and Tobago pair of Kyle Greaux and Jereem Richards have turned the form book upside down heading into Monday’s men’s 200 metres semifinals with contrasting but memorable wins on Sunday.
First, it was Greaux who blew his field apart in the last 50 metres to win Heat 4 doing handsprings and shutting down in the fifth-best time of the qualification round of 20.19 seconds.
Greaux has longed been underrated but has promised before. But after reaching the Commonwealth Games finals in 2018, his confidence has been boosted.
After Sunday’s race, a relaxed Greaux told Guardian Media, “Well, in the beginning of the race I felt a bit sluggish out of the blocks but for the rest of the race I was fine.”
Looking ahead to the semifinals, Greaux added, “As for tomorrow’s (Monday's) semifinal, my focus is executing a race that would hopefully advance me into the finals.”
Then in the seventh and last heat, Richards upset overwhelming favourite Noah Lyles of the USA and in the process recorded the eighth fastest time.
Speaking afterwards, Richards said, “I felt fearless today. I decided I was going to be fearless out there and when I looked across and saw Lyles easing down, I said let me win this and get a good lane and semifinal as the winner.
“I was not happy about the bend my turn, that has to be better but I know I was about 85 per cent so there is more left for tomorrow (today), I am aiming to get to the final and then see what happens. This is my second World Championships and I would love to reach finals again.”
However, the ebullient Richards admitted, “I am not putting myself under pressure, I am going to remain focussed and follow all my normal routines.”
As to the conditions in Doha, Richards revealed, “Thankfully, I ran here earlier in the year so I knew what to expect and it was hotter then and also the medical staff led by Dr Anyl Gopeesingh have all kept us aware of how much hydration we need, how much water etcetera and that has really helped.”
An obviously happy Richards was looking forward to both himself and Greaux reaching the finals.
“Kyle looked really good and if we can both get to the finals this would be a first in the 200 metres at the Worlds I believe and great for the country,” he said.
“I just want people to continue to support us and understand what an athlete has to undergo to achieve results, we need real fans not bandwagonists. We just need you to believe and we will be fearless tomorrow (today).”
Monday’s semifinals are scheduled to start at 1.50 pm TT time with Heat 1, where Richards will race from Lane 7 but have to contend with defending champion from 2017 Turkey’s Ramil Guliyev, Great Britain’s Adam Gemli and Canada’s Aaron Brown.
Then at 2.06 pm TT time, Greaux will also race out of Lane 7 and will face Canada’s Andre De Grasse, Jamaica’s Yohan Blake and Great Britain’s Zharnel Hughes. The final is Tuesday, so it is expected that a lot of the athletes will be going all out, as only top two from each of three semifinals and two fastest losers progress to final.
Meanwhile, veteran Kelly-Ann Baptiste virtually walked out of the blocks in her very competitive semifinals of the 100 metres and although she made up some ground could only finish fourth in a time of 11.19 seconds, which was not good enough for her to progress as one of the fastest losers into yesterday’s finals.
“My start was horrible and from that moment against this quality field it was always going to be tough, so I have to rebound and stay focused for the Tokyo Olympics next year and take whatever positives there are,” she said afterwards.
“In particular, given it was a funny season with lots of up and downs, I have to recognise that and now get ready for the relays with our baton passing.”
Baptiste also had words of joy for Greaux and Richards.
“Kyle is my training partner and both he and Jereem look really good, so we are all behind them, there is a good spirit among all the team.”
First into action on Monday will be Kamira Durant in the women’s 200 metres heats. She runs in Heat 1 from Lane 4 at 10.05 am TT time and will have to contend with the likes of the Netherlands’ Dafne Schippers and Ivory Coast’s Marie Josie Ta-Lou. Mauricia Prieto will be into action next race in Heat 2 at 10.14 am TT time from Lane 3 and face stiff opposition from Switzerland’s Mujinga Kombundji and Great Britain’s Jodie Williams.