Smith wins bronze at Islamic games, Abrams advances to 400m final

Guyana’s medal drought at the Islamic Games ended in spectacular fashion on Wednesday as national sprinter Keliza Smith captured a bronze medal in the women’s 100m final.

Smith crossed the finish line in 11.59 seconds to claim third place, trailing Bahrain’s Edidiong Odiong, who won gold in 11.17 seconds, and Cameroon’s Kolle Etame Herverge Tonjock, who secured silver in 11.38 seconds.

While not her personal best, Smith’s performance provided a breakthrough for Team Guyana, delivering the nation’s first medal of the Games and a significant morale boost after a challenging start to the campaign in Riyadh.

The momentum for the team continued with national 400m record holder Aliyah Abrams advancing to the women’s 400m final. Abrams finished third in her semifinal heat with a time of 53.01 seconds, earning an automatic qualifying spot for the final.

The Islamic Games will continue through the remainder of the week, with Team Guyana aiming to build on this promising start.