BERLIN — Casey Malone said his discus throws progressively improved at the world championships Wednesday, but at the end of the day his best wasn’t good enough to earn a medal.
The University of Colorado assistant track and field coach and former NCAA champion at CSU placed fifth with a throw of 216 feet, 9 inches on his sixth — and final — attempt.
“I felt like my throws got better and better as the competition went on,” Malone said. “It’s funny that I kept throwing better and better but I could never throw out of that fifth spot. . . . I wish I had more throws. Maybe I could have gotten fourth.”
Nevertheless, Malone was the top American finisher and established his best finish at worlds.
Germany’s Robert Harting won with an effort of 227-9 on his final toss, while Piotr Malachowski (226-10) of Poland and Gerd Kanter (226-0) of Estonia finished second and third, respectively.
On the track, the Jamaicans are clearing a major hurdle — the Americans.
Brigitte Foster-Hylton captured the 100-meter hurdles title, giving the island nation its first gold in the women’s event at the world championships. Delloreen Ennis-London won the bronze for Jamaica.
“We’re doing very good, and we’re happy,” Ennis-London said.
The Americans, who were counting on gold, ran into obstacles.
Ginnie Powell smashed a middle hurdle and finished sixth, and Olympic champion Dawn Harper clipped the second hurdle and took seventh.
Not exactly how they envisioned this playing out.
“I’m kind of ready to jump out of my skin,” Harper said. “I’m trying to remain calm.”
Powell knows the feeling.
“It’s kind of sad, a letdown day,” she said. “Two of America’s best hurdlers couldn’t medal.”
That seems to be the case these days when the Jamaicans are involved. Then again, the country with a population of 2.8 million does boast the best runner on the planet.
Usain Bolt will try for his second world record today in the final of the 200. He obliterated his world-record mark in the 100 on Sunday, blazing through the line in 9.58 seconds.
Shawn Crawford said he might have a way to neutralize Bolt’s burst — trip him.
Of course the American was only kidding, right?
“The cameras make it hard to do that,” Crawford said.
