Grenada's Kirani James is the world's fastest 400m runner and his country's 1st Olympic Gold Medal winner. Photo: London2012

Veteran Dominican Republic athlete, Felix "Superman" Sanchez, pictured alongside his country's world junior champion, Santos, won Gold in the 400m Hurdles with a season’s best of 47.63. Photo: London 2012

Another teenager, and this year's world junior champion, Luguelin Santos from Dominica took the silver in 44.46 and the bronze went to Trinidad & Tobago's surprise package, Lalonde Gordon in a personal best, 44.52. The others were Bahamians Chris Brown (44.79) for 4th, and Demetrius Pinder (44.98), 8th.

Caribbean hopes for medals in the 400m hurdles for men were dashed when T&T's Jehue Gordon and Leford Green of Jamaica finished in 6th and 7th with times of 48.86 and 49.12 respectively. The veteran from the Dominican Republic, Felix "Superman" Sanchez, arguably inspired by his country's world junior champion, Santos, confirmed his surprise status, after a 47.76 semi-final win by winning the Gold with a season’s best of 47.63. The USA's Michael Tinsley lso ran apersonal best of 47.91 to secure the silver and pre race favourite, Javier Culson of Puerto Rico took the bronze in 48.10.

The semi-finals of the women's 400m hurdles didn’t go according to expectation with defending champion, Melaine Walker, running a surprising 55.74 for 4th in the final heat of four. The winner was Nigerian, Muizat Odumosu with a national record, 54.40. Nickiesha Wilson also failed to qualify recording a time of 55.74 and a 5th place finish.. The winner was Russian, Natalya Antyukh in a round leading 53.33, a season best. Jamaican Kaliese Spencer, twice a World Champs 4th placer, remains in the hunt for a medal finishing 2nd in heat 2 in 54.20, trailing the world champion USA's Lashinda Demus’s 54.03.

In earlier action, there was a double dose of disappointment for the Jamaican entrants in the 100m hurdles for women, the most significant, being Brigitte Foster-Hylton's exit from heat 6, as she sought that elusive Olympic medal. It was a sad moment, as after getting off to an impressive start and leading a field that included the American, Lolo Jones, there was a mid-race collision with a hurdle and she stumbled in 7th with 13.98.

Coincidentally, it was Jones, who suffered a similar mishap in the Beijing final, who, tried, unsuccessfully, to console her, as she wept all the way to the mixed zone. The USA girl had the round's fastest time with 12.55 for her win. Latoya Greaves, thanks to an in-training side strain, did not face the starters. Shermaine Williams had to wait till the very end to be sure of a provisional spot in the semis, after her 5th place finish in 13.07 in heat 3. Bahamian, Ivanique Kemp, lucky to be in a heat that had no sub 13'ers, was 3rd in 13.51 for an automatic qualifier.

Jason Morgan, a part of history as the first from his country to take part in Olympic discus competition, had a best throw of 57.45m which left him second from last in Group A which had 20 throwers. Traves Smikle, competing in Group B, managed somewhat better, with a throw of 61.85m for the 11th spot of 21 competitors. In the women's shot put, Trinidad & Tobago's veteran, Cleopatra Borel, in her third Olympic Games, went close with her best effort of 18.35m but missed a qualifying spot.