Peters, the 2019 and 2022 World Champion, who failed to defend his title in Budapest, struggled for rhythm in his series, registering 78.78m, 78.41m and 77.82m, before hitting his best mark of 81.01m on his final attempt.
The event was won by World Championships bronze medallist, Jakub Vadlejch of Czech Republic, with a mark of 85.86m which came on his final attempt, as he denied newly minted World champion Neeraj Chopra (85.71m) India. Chopra’s mark was also on his final attempt.
Germany’s Julian Weber (85.04m) was third.
The 24-year-old Peters was allegedly attacked by several men onboard the Harbour Master boat on Wednesday night. He was beaten and thrown overboard during the altercation. A video that subsequently surfaced showed several men punching and kicking the elite athlete prior to him being thrown overboard.
Several people have been taken into custody but no one has yet been charged. Police said the investigations into the incident are ongoing and that it will take some time because of the number of individuals said to be involved.
Prime Minister Mitchell, who assumed office on June 24, released a statement on Thursday in which he also wished the Commonwealth Games silver medallist a speedy recovery from the injuries he sustained during the incident.
“Like so many of you, I, too, viewed the video of the altercation that involved our national sporting icon and international champion, Anderson Peters, and I am alarmed and troubled by what was shown,” the prime minister said.
“The facts are still unknown but the persons involved are currently assisting the police with the investigation, which we expect will be swift.
“As a Government, we unequivocally condemn violence of any kind and call on all citizens and visitors to maintain a posture of respect to differing perspectives and to opt for rational debate over extreme behaviour.
“I wish Anderson, and all other persons injured during the altercation, a speedy recovery from the injuries sustained.”
While Peters registered a season’s best 88.63m on his first attempt in a one-and-done performance to qualify second from Group B, Walcott, who launched the instrument to 83.02m for sixth in Group A, was made to sweat before he was eventually confirmed as the 11th overall best thrower in the final 12 to contest the medal event.
The fact that Peters effortlessly exceeded the qualification standards to qualify second overall places him in line for a possible podium finish, provided he can replicate or better his qualifying performance. Only India's Neeraj Chopra, who threw a season’s best 89.34m, topped Peters.
Walcott, the 2012 Olympic gold medallist, would have welcomed his qualification based on his distance despite not meeting the automatic qualification standard of 84.00m and will no doubt be looking to improve significantly in the final.
The men's javelin throw final is scheduled for August 8.
“It was an attack on the Harbour Master crew…not Anderson Peters,” Cooper said in a statement issued on Saturday.
The narrative all along was that the crew assaulted Peters, who won his second World title in the Javelin in Eugene last month, and then threw him overboard but Cooper says this couldn’t be further from the truth.
“On August 10, the crew and I had just successfully sailed the Recovery Cruise. I instructed the deckhand team to begin preparing the boat for our next cruise which was scheduled for 8 o’clock. After some time, I went to check on the crew and saw them asking a group of young men to leave the ship. My team tried encouraging the men to leave but again, the group (who I didn’t know at the time included World Champion Anderson Peters) refused to leave the ship. Anderson began to get aggressive and pace up and down the ramp. I approached him and asked him to leave. He then cursed at me, disrespected my nationality, and insulted me for being Trinidadian. I asked Anderson four times to leave the vessel and each time he responded with aggression and cursed at me.”
He further stated,” What happened next is where the issue started. While on the ramp, I informed Anderson that I was the captain of the ship. He responded by cursing at me and throwing water in my face. I tried avoiding further altercation by walking away from him, off the ramp and back onto the main deck. When I got there, I realized a member of Anderson’s clan had assaulted my cruise manager, Benji, by slapping him in his face. My crew tried once again to get the men off the boat, but they continued to refuse with aggression. All men continued to curse at us. Anderson then spat at me and began throwing punches at my face. My crew and I did not start the confrontation, Anderson and his group did. As any team would, we defended ourselves from the ongoing attack.”
Cooper then outlined how Peters ended up in the water.
“The brawl eventually moved to the ramp. With all the scuffling, Anderson lost his balance and fell into the water. No one threw him into the water! It’s upsetting to see reports that my crew and I threw him into the water. We were relieved to see that Anderson was pulled up out of the water and was safe, but even then, he continued to be aggressive towards us and refused to leave the boat. Eventually, the police arrived on the boat, and a mob gathered outside saying that we attacked Grenada’s National Hero.”
“In my profession, I make an ode to protecting all souls on every vessel I captain. I would never intentionally harm another human. I understand Grenada’s love for Anderson Peters but I believe the public should know the truth about the situation,” he added.
James is the most experienced member of the team, having competed at the London, Rio and Tokyo Olympic Games and 2011, 2013, 2015, 2019 and 2022 World Championships.
He missed out on the 2017 World Championships due to illness. He is the most decorated 400-metre runner in history, winning gold, silver and bronze medals at both Olympic Games and World Championships.
The team also include two-time Javelin World champion, Anderson Peters; Commonwealth Games Decathlon champion, Lindon Victor and female sprinter Halle Hazzard.
Peters is attempting to rewrite the history books with a third consecutive gold medal at the World Championships.
The World Championships will take place August 19-27 at Hungary’s new National Athletics Centre in Budapest.
Peters, who must now surely be favoured to win the gold medal at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon next month, threw 90.31m breaking the previous mark of 89.78m set by Norway’s Andreas Thorkildsen in 2006.
In winning, the Grenadian had to overcome a national record and personal best mark by India’s Neeraj Chopra, 89.94m, which was his opening throw. Julian Weber was third with his fifth-round mark of 89.08m.
After overcoming an injury that kept her out for an entire 2021 season, Clayton qualified for the World Championships when she finished third at Jamaica’s national championships last weekend in a season’s best 54.20. She lowered that time to 53.90 while finishing second in the 400m hurdles to Femke Bol of the Netherlands, who set a new meet record of 52.27, a time that makes her the second fastest in the world behind US champion and newly minted world-record holder Sydney McLaughlin.
Brazil’s Alison Dos Santos stormed to victory in the men’s event in a new meet record 46.80, which was also the fastest time in the world this year. Dos Santos, the bronze medallist at the Tokyo Olympics, dismantled the field over the first 200m and led by almost 10m as they turned into the home stretch.
He eventually won by more than a second over the USA’s CJ Allen who clocked 48.28 for second place and Commonwealth Games champion Kyron McMaster, who was farther back in 48.58, a season’s best.
Danielle Williams also ran a season’s best but just missed out on a podium in the 100m hurdles won by the imperious Jasmine Camacho-Quinn. The Puerto Rican Olympic champion held off a stern challenge from Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan to win in 12.46, the Nigerian clocking 12.50 for second place.
Reigning world champion Nia Ali was third in 12.53 with Williams clocking 12.59 for fourth.
Mondo Du Plantis had another outstanding outing setting a new national record of 6.16m to seal yet another win in the pole vault.
James, the 2012 Olympic champion, and Grenada’s first Olympic gold medalist is one of four track and field athletes named including 2019 World Champion Anderson Peters, Meleni Rodney, the 2014 Youth Olympics bronze medalist and veteran decathlete Linden Victor.
Two swimmers – Kimberly Ince (100m backstroke) and Delron Felix (100m freestyle) – have also been named to the team. The IOC awarded Grenada two wild card places for swimming.
The accompanying coaching staff will include, James’ coach Harvey Glance as well as throws coach Paul Phillip, decathlon coach Joshua Priester and pole vault coach Thomas Fitzsimon. Valencia Nathaly Sihera is the swimming coach.
The 2016 Olympic and 2017 World champion produced a season’s best 13.25 to win the final of the men’s sprint hurdles ahead of Belgium’s Elie Bacari (13.38) and Finland’s Elmo Lakka (13.43).
The 30-year-old earlier ran 13.29 to advance fastest from the heats.
The women’s sprint hurdles saw World Championships silver medallist Britany Anderson produce a season’s best 12.87 for sixth in the final after running 12.93 earlier in the heats.
The final was won by American World champion Nia Ali in 12.48 just ahead of Dutchwoman Nadine Visser (12.51). Ireland’s Sarah Lavin was third in 12.66.
This was McLeod’s third win in four events this season, with his previous two coming in Italy on May 15 and 19 with times of 13.37 and 13.47 at the Savona International Meeting and Lucca International Meeting, respectively.
Elsewhere, two-time World Championships triple jump silver medallist Shanieka Ricketts took the win in the women’s triple jump with a best jump of 14.17m coming in the first round of the competition.
Italy’s Dariya Derkach was second with 14.08m while Sweden’s Maja Askag was third with 14.06m.
Two-time World champion Anderson Peters threw 82.58m for fourth in the javelin throw behind India’s Neeraj Chopra (85.97m) and the Finnish pair of Toni Keranen (84.19m) and Oliver Helander (83.96m).
All four Trinidadians were ordered remanded in custody until the fines are paid. Failure to pay the fines could mean up to 18 months in prison for each man.
Mikhail John, a 35-year-old sailor, John Alexander, a 55-year-old deckhand, Noel Cooper, 42, the captain of the Harbour Master party boat, and Sheon Jack, a 28-year-old sailor, all pleaded guilty to charges of grievous harm against Anderson Peters and his brother Kiddon.
On the charge of grievous harm, each man was fined EC$3500 to be paid forthwith and in default face a year in prison; on the charge of causing harm each man was fined US$2000 to be paid forthwith or face six months imprisonment.
On Monday, prosecutors dropped the charges against 40-year-old Abiola Benjamin after reviewing a video of the incident that showed he was trying to separate the men involved in the altercation in which Peters suffered injuries to his ankle, elbow and face and was thrown overboard.
Meanwhile, 45-year-old sailor Lance Wiggins pleaded not guilty to the charges and was eventually released after prosecutors decided that the evidence against him was insufficient to bring about prosecution.
Peters was beaten and thrown overboard the Harbour Master party boat on the night of Wednesday, August 10. He suffered injuries to his ankle, elbow, and shoulder. He now faces a race against time to recover in order to complete his season on the Diamond League circuit.
If he is unable to, he stands to potentially lose tens of thousands of US dollars in earnings.
Peters has retained the services of Derick Sylvester in his quest to pursue a civil case against the convicted men.
Video of the incident showed Peters engaged in a physical altercation with several men. He was overpowered, kicked and punched before eventually being thrown off the boat named Harbour Master that was docked on the Spice Island.
There is no word yet on what triggered the incident.
The Royal Grenada Police told Sportsmax.TV on Thursday that the matter is still being investigated and that no charges have yet been laid in connection with the incident.
The police said the investigation is still ongoing because of the large number of people involved.
As it relates to the health of the Commonwealth Games silver medallist, the police said his condition is still being evaluated.
Calls to the Grenada Athletic Association President Charles George went unanswered. There was also no response from the Grenada Olympic Association when Sportsmax.TV called on Thursday.
A representative of the Grenadian athletic icon was also unable to provide any information on the state of his health.
Peters, 24, won his second world championship title in Oregon in July but finished second in at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in July.
Ricketts, who has a season’s best of 14.43m, finished ahead of Slovenia’s Neja Filipic (14.26m) and the USA’s Tori Franklin (14.05m) at the meet, which is a part of the World Athletics Continental Tour-Gold.
Also in action was 2019 World Champion and current world leader in the Men’s javelin, Anderson Peters of Grenada. He produced a distance of 86.60m for third in the event behind Indian Olympic Champion Neeraj Chopra who, in his first competition of the season, threw a personal best and national record 89.30 to finish second. Finland’s Oliver Helander threw a personal best 89.83m for the win.
Jamaican Olympic finalist Britany Anderson had to settle for second in the 100m hurdles in 12.59 after being narrowly out-dipped at the finish line by Nigeria’s reigning Commonwealth Games Champion Tobi Amusan (12.57). Nadine Visser of the Netherlands was third in 12.72.
Jackson, who won silver in the 100m with a 10.73 personal best on Sunday, ran a spectacular championship record 21.45 for victory ahead of teammate Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (21.81) and Great Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith (22.02). Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah finished seventh in 22.39.
Jackson’s time also makes her the fastest woman alive over the distance and is a new national record.
In the men’s equivalent, the USA completed their second sprint sweep of the championships with Noah Lyles defending his title from Doha with a phenomenal world-leading and lifetime best of 19.31 to become the third fastest man in history over the distance.
Kenny Bednarek ran 19.77 for the silver medal while 18-year-old Erriyon Knighton took the bronze in 19.80. The Dominican Republic's Alexander Ogando and Trinidad & Tobago's Jereem Richards were fifth and sixth in 19.93 and 20.08, respectively.
In the Women’s 800m, Jamaica’s 1500m semi-finalist Adelle Tracey ran a personal best of 1:59.20 to finish third in heat one and advance to the semi-finals.
Joining Tracey in the semis will be her Jamaican teammate and 2019 World Championships finalist Natoya Goule, who won the sixth and final heat in 2:00.06.
In the field, the world leader and defending world champion Anderson Peters of Grenada needed only one throw to advance to the final of the men’s javelin, registering a mark of 89.91m. Trinidadian 2012 Olympic gold medallist Keshorn Walcott failed to advance, finishing 16th overall in qualifying with a throw of 78.87m.
Cuba’s Lazaro Martinez jumped 17.06m to advance to the final of the men’s triple jump.
Investigations are continuing about the incident wherein the athlete was involved in a brawl with several men said to be from Trinidad and Tobago but so far no charges have been filed, police said. However, there are concerns over the athlete’s health following the incident.
The police said he was treated at a hospital and released but Paul Phillip, who coaches the athlete revealed on the Sportsmax Zone on Friday evening that Peters’ suffered injury to his left ankle as well as bruises to his elbow, neck and face.
According to Phillip, the ankle injury is of greatest concern as that is the ankle Peters’ throws off and it appears he has suffered a sprain which could prevent him from competing at the Diamond League meeting in Lausanne on August 26.
The incident has drawn strong reactions across the region including Brian Lewis, President of the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC) who expressed “shock and dismay” at the incident.
Discussions at a diplomatic level have also been engaged between representatives of Grenada and Trinidad and Tobago, who have said that it is hoped that justice will be served.
On Thursday, Peters threw 90.31 to win the event at the Stockholm Diamond League meet, ahead of Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra of India who recorded 89.94 for a new personal best and national record. Germany’s Julian Weber was third with 89.08 and The Czech Republic’s Jakub Vadlejch, who has thrown the second-longest distance this season, was fourth.
It is Peters who has put together the most impressive resume this season, however, holding the world lead of 93.07 and winning 8 of 11 events he has taken part in so far. The thrower, however, believes he is yet to discover his best form and admits he is not yet fully fit.
“I am not really in a great shape - I have suffered a back injury. It is still getting better but I hope to be back in really good shape soon,” Anderson said following the meet.
“Getting the 90m throw was really good, I was very much motivated by Neeraj to get a 90m throw because he started the competition with a PB and a NR and that was pretty good for the start,” he added.
Ahead of the event in Oregon, the thrower is hoping to be in top shape.
“I am thinking about it - not having the minor injuries and I hope when I am like 100 percent fit, I want to see what the result would be. When I am able to get the technique, to get the rhythm, and my body would be 100 percent ready, I really want to see the result,” Peters said.
“The more I compete, the better I become…In Eugene, it will be anybody´s game”
