’I knew I was going to get a medal, so I was hyped, I was excited.’

Renny Quow’s confidence in his own ability was evident in the World Championship men’s 400 metres final here in Berlin, Germany, yesterday, the Trinidad and Tobago athlete sticking to his race plan to earn bronze in 45.02 seconds.

Well behind the leaders at the 200-metre mark, Quow turned on the afterburners in the second half of the race to finish third, behind Americans LaShawn Merritt and Jeremy Wariner. Merritt added the world title to his Olympic crown with a 44.06 seconds run, forcing defending champion Wariner to settle for silver in 44.60.

Quow is the first Trinidad and Tobago quarter-miler in the 26-year history of the championships to secure a podium finish.

’It’s a wonderful accomplishment for me. I’m just happy. I want to thank my dad and mom, Rupert and Rena Quow, for supporting me, and my brothers, especially Ryan. Thanks for the support and thanks for everything,’ an elated Quow said after the race.

Prior to the 2009 final, Ian Morris’s sixth-place finish back in 1991 was the country’s best showing in the event. Quow, though, still considers Morris, ’the national record holder at 44.21 seconds’, to be Trinidad and Tobago’s best ever 400m runner.

’I still haven’t broken his record,’ the US-based athlete told the Express.

’Until I do that, then I can surpass him, but right now I’m still beneath him. He’s still the best.’

Quow had lots to do on the home straight, but the 21-year-old quarter-miler timed his run perfectly, reeling in a fading Chris Brown to comfortably claim bronze, the Bahamian eventually finishing fifth in 45.47 seconds. Tabarie Henry, of the US Virgin Islands, clocked 45.42 to cop fourth spot.

Quow, who turns 22 next Tuesday, said he had a restless night ahead of yesterday’s championship race.

’I was scared and nervous, kind of jittery on the bed, but I’m going to sleep comfortable tonight.’

The nerves did not show at the start of the race. When the 2006 World Junior Champion was introduced, he shook his head confidently and raised both arms.

Following a rain delay, which pushed back the schedule by some 40 minutes, the starter’s pistol was fired, and Quow set off on his medal bid in lane three. David Gillick, in two, quickly made up the stagger on the T&T athlete. But the Irishman, like most others in the race, had no answer to Quow’s kick, Gillick finishing sixth in 45.53 seconds.

Quow’s 45.02 clocking was much slower than the 44.53 personal best he had produced in the semi-finals. The Morvant-born, Tobago-bred athlete said the rain delay probably cost him a faster time in the final.

’The rain kind of messed up everything. It set me off and discouraged me a little bit.’

But at the end of the race, Quow was anything but discouraged, draping the red, white and black over his head and shoulders as he reflected on his historic achievement. See Page 4