St Lucia's Edwards Makes Worlds Finals

Darvin Edwards spent two years away from athletics through injury and lack of finances. Imagine what the soon-to-be 25-year-old (in two weeks) could have accomplished but for those two lost years.

Really, though, no need to imagine. Darvin is sitting pretty at the top of the world, with an amazing year that is not even over. He matched his St Lucia National Record and personal-best mark of 2.25m earlier this year, improved to 2.27m, and then went on to clear 2.28m, a new National Record and an Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States record. More importantly, it was the qualifying standard for the 2011 World Championships in Athletics and the 2012 Olympic Games in London, England. Darvin lives in England and trains and competes with Belgrave Harriers, under the watchful eyes of Trevor Llewelyn, who accompanied the young man to Worlds.

Going into the qualifying rounds Tuesday morning on a sunny day in Daegu, South Korea, Darvin's first goal was to just make the final, either automatically by clearing 2.31m or as one of the 12 best jumpers. He cleared at 2.16 and 2.21, but missed his first trial at 2.25 - it was to be his only miss. Darvin went on to conquer 2.25, soared over at 2.28 and then set new benchmarks for himself, his nation and his sub-region by going over at 2.31m, the first to do so in Group A. Group A, by the way, only included American champion Jesse Williams and former World Champion Donald Thomas of the Bahamas.

Darvin was one of just two men to set a personal-best mark in qualifying, and one of only three to complete the competition with no more than one miss at any height. His performance was exactly what you would ask of a champion, giving of his very best on the biggest stage of his career so far. And a bigger stage is still to come, as he will now compete in Thursday's final.

Prior to this morning's performance, Darvin's only international exposure for 2011 had been a bronze medal at the Central American and Caribbean Championships in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. Given that one of his stated goals is to better his performance from Worlds when he heads to London 2012, God willing it appears Darvin will be getting a lot more exposure. Hopefully, he can also be put in a much better position to improve.

(The men's High Jump final is Thursday evening Daegu time, or Thursday morning St Lucia time.)

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