Young stars look to shine
After steady and impressive progressions in their first year as senior athletes, sprint hurdler Orlando Bennett and 400 metres hurdler Shiann Salmon are ready to launch their professional careers on one of track and field’s grandest stages, the IAAF World Championships.
Both athletes performed exceptionally well for their high schools at the 2018 ISSA/ GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Championships and won silver medals in their respective events at the World Under-20 championship in Tampere, Finland last year.
And a year later, they are positioned to stake their claims as the front-runners of the new generation of Jamaican athletes.
Bennett, the former Calabar High School standout, shocked many when he finished second at the Jamaica Senior Championship back in June. He produced 13.27 seconds that day, to finish ahead of Olympic medallist Hansle Parchment and Andrew Riley.
Salmon also put in a spirited performance to finish second in the women’s 400m hurdles in a lifetime best of 55.39 seconds to make her first senior team.
Both athletes are overjoyed to be here in Doha.
“I am really happy to be here because to know that I am just one year out of high school, it’s a great feeling,” Salmon said. “I am grateful to Mr ( Maurice) Wilson. I got two personal bests at the Trials and I am just hoping that I can execute the way he taught me and if I make the final I will take it from there.”
Bennett said: “If you told me last year that I would be on the World Championship team I would probably just shake my head and say that’s a lie. I consider it a great achievement knowing that I am 19 [years old] and in my first year as a senior, I am dominating. I am
Gjust going to do my best and see what I can achieve.”
With doubts still swirling over Briana Williams’ qualification for the pending championship, Bennett and Salmon are the youngest members of Jamaica’s team and their performances could give a synopsis of what the country’s future in the sport looks like.