3. SHAUNAE MILLER
She is just 21 but Shaunae Miller is gradually carving a niche for herself as a specialist in the 200m/400m. As a former Youth and Junior champion in the 400m, Miller was waiting for the perfect opportunity to replicate same at senior level, and came close to doing so at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing.
The 2014 World Indoor Bronze medallist started the season on a high, stunning the rest of the field that included Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Tori Bowie at the Jamaican Invitational, posting a WL and NR of 22.14s, tying the Meet Record and erasing the 16-year old Bahamian Record set by Olympic GOLD medallist and sprint star, Debbie Ferguson McKenzie (22.19s).
Miller then shifted focus to the 400m and sprung a surprise on her more experienced opponents, snatching a much needed victory at the Lausanne Diamond League. She sailed past Olympic champion Sanya Richards-Ross and 2014 Diamond Race winner, Novlene Williams-Mills as she clocked a PB of 49.92s, making her only the third Bahamian woman to dip under 50s.
She was determined to make her second World Championships experience a memorable one after being denied a place on the podium in the 200m in Moscow as Blessing Okagbare beat her to the Bronze medal. She was unstoppable in both the heats and semis in Beijing, taking the lead both times but went against 200m specialist, Allyson Felix in the final.
Felix, who chose Beijing to showcase her versatility in the 400m, took GOLD with a WL of 49.26s as Miller won a much deserved Silver with a PB of 49.67s as Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson settled for Bronze with a PB of 49.99s.
