DAEGU, South Korea - For the first time in almost a decade, The Bahamas won't be represented in the Men's 400 meters (m) final at the International Association of Athletic Federations' (IAAF) World Outdoor Championships. Hopes were high after three Bahamians made it through to the semi-finals, but all three failed to make the final here at Daegu Stadium in Daegu, South Korea.

For Bahamian national record holder Chris Brown, it was the same old song and dance.  He got nipped at the line in a major meet again, falling to third in his semi-final heat in 45.54 seconds.  Only the two fastest times in each heat and the next two fastest times qualified for the final. "I'm disappointed but I still have to give the Lord praise for going in there and coming out healthy," he said.  "I really didn't see him.  I didn't even realize that he was right there at the line.  I was pushing and pushing and did everything that I was supposed to do but it just didn't happen today."

Ironically, the same guy who nipped Brown for fourth two years ago, Tabarie Henry, nipped him at the tape Monday night here in Daegu.  Henry finished second in that heat in 45.53 seconds and teenage sensation Kirani James from Grenada was the outright winner, in 45.20 seconds. "I thought the times would have been a little faster.  I felt good in my warm-up, but the time - 45.5... that's one of the slowest times I ran all season, so I'm highly disappointed with that," said Brown after a tough race.  "I was mentally prepared for it but just got nipped at the line tonight.  I was really looking forward to making the final.  One of those medals I was hoping to come out here and get but I'll just have to put this one behind me," he added.

Brown, who finished fourth, fourth and fifth at the past three World Championships, has been beaten at the line at least three times in his career at major international championships.  Jamaican Davian Clarke got him at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, causing him to miss out on the final there, Henry got him in 2009 in Berlin and Monday night in here in Daegu, and of course everyone remembers the infamous dive by American David Neville at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.  Through it all, the national record holder is trying to stay upbeat. "It's a big pill to swallow but it motivates me and the other guys to come back for the relay," he said.  "It's very disappointing. I wasn't ready for that one.  I guess I just have to take it like an ordinary day and just move forward."

As for the other two Bahamians in the semi-finals, they finished well out of the running.  Ramon Miller was fifth in his semi-final heat, in 45.88 seconds, and National Champion Demetrius Pinder was seventh in his semi-final heat, in 45.87 seconds. "I just didn't execute my race plan.  I didn't get out as fast as I wanted to and that caused me a bit tonight, but I came out healthy and I thank God for that," said Miller.

Running out of lane seven, Miller had World and Olympic Champion LaShawn Merritt behind him.  He tried to react to Merritt's surge at the 250m mark but it was too little too late. "I was thinking that I should go with him when he passed me but I tried to stick to my race plan as much as possible.  I still have the relay to focus on, so I'll see how that goes," said Miller.

As for Pinder, he got out fast in his semi-final heat but seemed to run out of energy on the home stretch. "It was definitely a learning experience for me," said Pinder.  "I tried to do what I could but it just wasn't my day.  I gave it everything I had so I wouldn't make excuses and say that anything went wrong.  It just wasn't my night.  It was a long season for me but I still gave it my best tonight.

"We're determined to give it our all for the relay and see how things work out.  We feel that we could come out with a medal... just put everything in God's hands and see what happens," he added.

The opening round heats of the 4x400m will be held Thursday afternoon here in Daegu, late Wednesday night in The Bahamas.  The final is set for 9:15 p.m. Friday night here in Daegu, 8:15 a.m. Friday morning back in The Bahamas.

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