Thomas-Dodd takes silver to give Jamaica its first medal at World Indoors

Twenty-five year old Jamaican shot putter Daniel Thomas-Dodd picked up Jamaica's first medal in the 2018 edition of the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Birmingham, England after securing silver in the women's shot put. Thomas-Dodd threw an indoor national record of 19.22m to secure her first medal for Jamaica at a World Championship.

Hungarian athlete Anita Marton who pipped the Jamaican to a medal in London in 2017, once again overtook Thomas-Dodd to capture the gold. Gong  Lijiao, a 29 year-old Chinese shot putter, secured the bronze.

On the track, Elaine Thompson was not able to replicate her 2016 indoor performances as she had to settle for 4th in the women's 60m final. Thompson clocked 7.08 seconds which was almost one tenth of a second slower that the winner Murielle Ahoure of the Ivory Coast who won in a world leading 6.97 seconds.

The silver went to her countrywoman Marie Jose-Talou in 7.05 while Swiss athlete Mujinga Kambundji also did 7.05 seconds for the bronze.

Another final involving a Jamaican saw Damar Forbes finishing 15th in the men’s long jump with a leap of 7.21m. The winner was Juan Miguel Echevarria of Cuba who leaped to 8.46m. The silver went to Luvo Manyonga of South Africa while the bronze was taken by American Marquis Dendy.

On Saturday’s third day of competition, the first Jamaican in action will be Kimmari Roach in the mens 60m heats. That event will get underway at 5:15am jamaican time.