Tajay Gayle is the toast of the town after two days of competition at the IAAF World Championships. The former Papine High school student and MVP athlete created a massive upset when he spanned 8.69 metres national record to give Jamaica’s its first ever gold medal in the long jump at a global event. The old national record of 8.62m was held by James Beckford since 1996.

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Gayle mentally killed off the opposition with an excellent 8.46m in the first round and they failed to recover. Favourite Juan Echevarria of Cuba folded early and could only manage 8.34m for third. Olympic champion Jeff Henderson of the United States grabbed silver with 8.39m.

In the only other final involving a Jamaican on Saturday, former World Champion Yohan Blake posted 9.97 for 5th in the men’s 100m which was won by American Christian Coleman in 9.76.

Day three will see Jamaicans in the mixed relay final and the 100m for women.

https://www.iaaf.org/competitions/iaaf-world-championships/iaaf-world-athletics-championships-doha-2019-6033/timetable/byday