Debbie brings home BRONZE
By Devin Francis
ATHENS, Greece – Debbie Ferguson proved just how great of a champion she was last night.
Ferguson, running in lane 8, put it all together when it really counted to power through to a bronze medal finish in the finals of the women's 200m in a season best time at the Athens Olympic Stadium Wednesday night.
Running in the same lane she had when she finished seventh in the 100m finals just four days ago (Saturday) Ferguson silently vowed that she would not be denied this time.
She finished in a time of 22.30, once again bettering her season's best performance, which she topped in every race.
On Monday morning she won her qualifying heat in a season's best time of 22.57. Later that same evening she finished second to Jamaica's Veronica Campbell in another season's best time of 22.53.
In Tuesday's semi final round she finished fourth, in a very fast race, but qualified for the final in another season's best time of 22.49.
And Wednesday, a third place finish in yet another season's best.
She came out of the blocks strong, but being in lane 8 was unable to see anybody in front of her. Because she couldn't see anyone, Ferguson came off the curve running at top speed. Once she saw that she was in the medal hunt during the final 50m, she continued to power her way towards the finish line. The rest is history. Literally.
"I'm so excited," said Ferguson, "I give God the glory for all the things He has done and continues to do in my life. It wasn't easy running in lane eight, however as my coach (Amy Deem) said if they were going to win this race, they were going to have to run and catch me, because I was going to run until I couldn't run any more.
"Everything went good, I perfectly executed the race – I could have been a bit faster with my time, but a season's best, a bronze medal – I can't complain, I have to give thanks.
"It was a tough race," she said, "the field was fast and all the girls were running well. Nobody expected me to do anything in lane 8, so when they don't expect anything of you that's when you prove them wrong.
"When I found out that I was in lane 8, I started to think back to the 100m," Debbie said, "but I threw the plans out the door and I ran like hell."
After the race an overjoyed Ferguson joked that another round may allow her to run even faster than she did in the finals.
Tonight she may get that chance to find out just how serious her humour may have been. The qualifying rounds of the women's 4x100m relays begin tonight at 10:00 pm and Ferguson, one of the key components to the team's success will have to be at full strength.
The Bahamian women's team comes into the qualifying rounds as the defending champions after winning the gold medal in dramatic fashion at the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000.
"I had to find the energy – we have the relay to run. The 200m is over, now its time to focus on the relay, so I've got to find the energy."
Ferguson joins Bahamian quarter-miler Tonique Williams-Darling who won the gold medal in the women's 400m final. She was unable to make it to a reception where Williams-Darling was honoured Wednesday as she was in preparation for last night's 200m final.
"Two medals for The Bahamas is incredible," exclaimed Ferguson, "in Sydney we got two medals, now in 2004 we've got two. Per capita we in The Bahamas are the best – we probably won the Olympics and we hope that the Bahamian people are proud of us."
Debbie brings home BRONZE
By Devin Francis
ATHENS, Greece – Debbie Ferguson proved just how great of a champion she was last night.
Ferguson, running in lane 8, put it all together when it really counted to power through to a bronze medal finish in the finals of the women's 200m in a season best time at the Athens Olympic Stadium Wednesday night.
Running in the same lane she had when she finished seventh in the 100m finals just four days ago (Saturday) Ferguson silently vowed that she would not be denied this time.
She finished in a time of 22.30, once again bettering her season's best performance, which she topped in every race.
On Monday morning she won her qualifying heat in a season's best time of 22.57. Later that same evening she finished second to Jamaica's Veronica Campbell in another season's best time of 22.53.
In Tuesday's semi final round she finished fourth, in a very fast race, but qualified for the final in another season's best time of 22.49.
And Wednesday, a third place finish in yet another season's best.
She came out of the blocks strong, but being in lane 8 was unable to see anybody in front of her. Because she couldn't see anyone, Ferguson came off the curve running at top speed. Once she saw that she was in the medal hunt during the final 50m, she continued to power her way towards the finish line. The rest is history. Literally.
"I'm so excited," said Ferguson, "I give God the glory for all the things He has done and continues to do in my life. It wasn't easy running in lane eight, however as my coach (Amy Deem) said if they were going to win this race, they were going to have to run and catch me, because I was going to run until I couldn't run any more.
"Everything went good, I perfectly executed the race – I could have been a bit faster with my time, but a season's best, a bronze medal – I can't complain, I have to give thanks.
"It was a tough race," she said, "the field was fast and all the girls were running well. Nobody expected me to do anything in lane 8, so when they don't expect anything of you that's when you prove them wrong.
"When I found out that I was in lane 8, I started to think back to the 100m," Debbie said, "but I threw the plans out the door and I ran like hell."
After the race an overjoyed Ferguson joked that another round may allow her to run even faster than she did in the finals.
Tonight she may get that chance to find out just how serious her humour may have been. The qualifying rounds of the women's 4x100m relays begin tonight at 10:00 pm and Ferguson, one of the key components to the team's success will have to be at full strength.
The Bahamian women's team comes into the qualifying rounds as the defending champions after winning the gold medal in dramatic fashion at the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000.
"I had to find the energy – we have the relay to run. The 200m is over, now its time to focus on the relay, so I've got to find the energy."
Ferguson joins Bahamian quarter-miler Tonique Williams-Darling who won the gold medal in the women's 400m final. She was unable to make it to a reception where Williams-Darling was honoured Wednesday as she was in preparation for last night's 200m final.
"Two medals for The Bahamas is incredible," exclaimed Ferguson, "in Sydney we got two medals, now in 2004 we've got two. Per capita we in The Bahamas are the best – we probably won the Olympics and we hope that the Bahamian people are proud of us."