Courageous runner wins 400m sprint after lengthy illness break
FORMER Olympic and World champion Kirani James returned from a long layoff to claim the 400 metres at the Racers Grand Prix on Saturday, clocking a winning time of 44.35 seconds.
James produced a final burst to beat runner-up Fred Kerley of the United States by 100th of a second at the National Stadium in Kingston.
The impressive showing came one day after James announced that he has Graves’ disease, an immune system disorder resulting in an overproduction of thyroid hormones.
The 24-year-old James came from behind with about 40 metres remaining to catch Kerley, who got off to a fast start.
James said afterwards he was “trying to improve my health and preparation day by day. It’s just a blessing to be here and competing”.
The Grenadian, who won gold and silver at the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games, had announced in a pre-meet press conference Friday that he was suffering from the disease.
“I found out I had Graves’ disease and for people who don’t know what that’s about, it’s a disease that affects your thyroid.
“And when it overacts it affects your hormones, speeds up your metabolism, weight loss, muscle weaknesses, shortness of breath, a lot of symptoms; sometimes it varies. So I had to see doctors and be on medication.
“It’s been a long road, so I am just glad to be back,” he said.
Also, Jamaican-based Great Britain runner Zharnel Hughes ran a world leading 9.91 seconds (0.4m/s), his first time under 10.00 seconds, to win the men’s 100m.
The long-striding Hughes got out off to a good start and held off the American Noah Lyles, who ran a personal best 9.93. Yohan Blake ran a 10.00 seconds for third place.
World and Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce continued her strong comeback, having taken time out after giving birth to her first child, and ran a season best 11.10 seconds in the 100m. —