BEIJING, China - As fate would have it, the last jumper that could knock him out of the men's triple jump final at these 15th International Association of Athletics Federation's (IAAF) World Championships here in Beijing, China, was his own teammate Latario Collie-Minns. It was a bittersweet moment for The Bahamas at that point, as it was obvious that one would go through and the other would not.

As it turned out, Collie-Minns could only muster a best leap of 16.21 meters (m) on his final attempt (53' 2-1/4"), and finished 23rd overall. It wasn't nearly enough to knock "Superman" Leevan Sands out of the final. Sands, back on the world stage after a grueling knee injury and a tumultuous season in which he battled naysayers and frustration from his own federation, has now reached a high point in his athletic career. Sands popped a best leap of 16.73m (54' 10-3/4") yesterday, and will jump on Thursday as one of the 12 best triple jumpers in the world.

Sands will be the sixth jumper in the final, set for Thursday at 7:10 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) in The Bahamas. "This is what I worked hard for, and it feels good. So many people thought it couldn't happen, but it has, and I just thank the Lord for everything that He has done for me," said an emotional Sands on Wednesday morning here in Beijing. "There was a possibility that a lot of guys could have knocked me out of that final spot. I just prayed and asked the Lord to pull me through. This is what I wanted. My goal was to get to the final, and I did it."

Cuban Pedro Pichardo was the top qualifier for the final with a distance of 17.43m (57' 2-1/4"), American Christian Taylor qualified second with a distance of 17.28m (56' 8-1/2"), and Marian Oprea, of Romania, qualified third with a season's best leap of 17.07m (56'). As mentioned earlier, Sands grabbed the final spot for the final. He had a respectable series of jumps, leaping 16.60m (54' 5-1/2") on his first attempt, 16.69m (54' 9") on his second attempt, and 16.73m on his third.

Sands was ninth after the first series of jumps, slipped to 10th after the second series of jumps, and after slipping to 14th in the third round, he leapfrogged two jumpers with his 16.73m jump on his final attempt. Just the top 12, or an automatic qualifying distance of 17m flat (55' 9-1/4"), registered for the final. Sands grabbed that final spot, and the reception and congratulations he got from his jumping peers alone, as well as the support he received from family, friends and fans around the world, made it worthwhile. "Everyone was excited - happy to see me back," said Sands. "I was congratulated everywhere.

I think I helped to motivate a lot of them as well. The key is to get to the top eight now. My goal is to go 17.20-plus (56' 5-1/4"), and I have to do that tomorrow (today). Also, I could feel everyone praying for me from home. I thank everyone for the prayers and well wishes and support. Thank you all... there's more to come."

After Sands final attempt there were still a number of quite capable jumpers with the ability to knock him out of that final spot including Americans Marquis Dendy and Will Claye, and Collie-Minns just to name a few. Dendy actually had an identical best leap as Sands, 16.73m, but his second best jump was just 16.32m (53' 6-1/2") compared to Sands' second best effort of 16.69m. Hence, the 12th and final qualifying spot went to the Bahamian national record holder. "This is a dream come true for me. I'm just so happy, and excited," said Sands. "The hardest part of the triple jump is the qualifying round. Once you could get into the final, anything can happen," he added.

Sands, 34, said that 20-year-old jumper Collie-Minns has a bright future, and he encourages him every day to chase his dreams and aspire for greatness. "I told him he is young, and his time is going to come," said Sands. "This is his first world championships. I talk to him every day and I always encourage him to do his best. He is one of the young guys who are going to take over in the next couple years from me. I'll continue to be there for all the young Bahamian triple jumpers coming up."

Now, come Thursday, Sands will try to relive the moment from the summer of 2008 in the same building where he broke his own national record and won Olympic bronze. He was third in the Olympic final in the "Bird's Nest" in Beijing that year with a national record setting jump of 17.59m (57' 8-1/2"). He hasn't been over 17m this year, but no matter what he does in the final, in the minds of many the Bahamian national hero is already a winner.Just making it back to this level after what many considered to be a career-ending injury, a torn patella tendon that he suffered at the 2012 London Olympics, was special. A nation is undoubtedly appreciative regardless of what happens in the men's triple jump final.

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