BEIJING, China - Shaunae Miller won her first ever medal at the world outdoor championships on Thursday, and The Bahamas its second at these 15th International Association of Athletics Federation's (IAAF) World Championships. Miller was phenomenal, circling the track at the "Bird's Nest" Stadium in a new personal best time of 49.67 seconds for the silver medal behind Allyson Felix's world lead and new personal best of 49.26 seconds. As a matter of fact, the top three finishers all ran personal best times.

Jamaican Shericka Jackson dipped below 50 seconds for the first time in her career, as she was third in 49.99 seconds. On the home stretch, the only question was whether or not a charging Miller would catch Felix though. The American blasted out of the blocks as if she was running a 200m race, and showed tremendous power in coming home.

Miller flew past Jackson coming into the final straight, and started to reel in Felix, one of the more decorated female sprinters of all-time. Felix stayed strong and powered home for the gold medal. Miller hung on for the silver, and the four Jamaicans in the final, led by Jackson, were third, fourth, fifth and sixth. Christine Day ran a new personal best of 50.14 seconds for fourth.

Jamaicans Stephenie Ann McPherson and Novlene Williams-Mills followed; American Phyllis Francis was seventh; and defending World Champion and former Olympic Champion Christine Ohuruogu, of Great Britain, faded to eighth. Miller was more than ecstatic about her performance. "The race went real well," she said. "The competition was fierce as expected.

All of the ladies brought their 'A' games. It was a fun race, and I was glad that I was able to be a part of it, and compete with the best in the world." Miller remained poised and ran her race after Felix got out to that unbelievable start. In fact, it looked like Miller might have been too casual as Felix stormed ahead. Running one lane behind Miller, Jackson pulled up alongside her at the 200m mark and charged ahead.

Miller never lost focus though. She blew past Jackson on the home stretch, and then made her move on Felix. She gave it her all, but came up about two to three meters short at the end. "I saw her (Felix) go out, but my main focus was to run my race and stick to my race model. I was able to come out with a PR (personal best) so I'm very thankful for that," said a graceful Miller. "It's amazing.

I'm very happy and I'm having a lot of fun in the sport right now. I have a long way to go, so I feel good about the future. I'm looking forward for better things to come." As for what could develop into a rivalry with Felix, Miller said that she is looking forward to the challenge. They both qualified in the 200 and 400m for these world championships, and both elected to run the longer race. They might find themselves in the same scenario for next year's Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. "I like a lil competition so I'm expecting the best for next year and beyond," said Miller.

"She's (Felix) an amazing athlete, a veteran and I'm just coming into the senior ranks, but I'm looking forward to any challenge. It should be fun." Miller said that she is going to celebrate the moment here in Beijing, most likely by going out with her mother and father who are both here, and her agent and coaches. Her father, Shaun Miller, who was her first coach, said that his daughter just stuck to her race model and it paid dividends for her. "I'm very proud of the way she handled business out there for The Bahamas tonight. She didn't lose focus when Felix got out there. She just stuck to the plan and ran her race. I'm very proud of her," he said.

Shaunae said that she could feel the love from back in The Bahamas. She just wants to thank everyone back home for supporting her and wishing her well. "Thank you all. I love you guys so much," she said. The sky is the limit for young Shaunae Miller.

At just 21-years-old, she is already a double medalist at the world level in the senior ranks. She won a bronze at the world indoor championships in Sopot, Poland last year, and now has her first world outdoor medal - a silver here in Beijing, China. She was aiming to become the seventh person worldwide to ever win global titles at the world youth, world junior and senior world levels, but in the end, came up about two to three meters short. At just 21, there's no doubt that she will have more opportunities though.

For now, all the talk among Bahamians here in Beijing is about the sweet silver won on Thursday night in the "Bird's Nest" Stadium, to go along with the bronze and another national record by Jeffery Gibson in the men's 400m hurdles on Tuesday. Miller pocketed $30,000 from the IAAF for her silver, and Gibson is the beneficiary of $20,000 for his bronze. That could be just a taste of things to come, as the nine-day meet isn't over for The Bahamas just yet.

There are three Bahamian jumpers in the men's high jump competition on Friday morning in Beijing, Thursday night back in The Bahamas, and three relay teams will hit the track starting on Friday. A nation awaits more good news and more great results.

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