Hyde strikes gold for Jamaica, more medals for Caribbean

BYDGOSZCZ, Poland, CMC – Title-holder Jaheel Hyde ran virtually unchallenged in the 400 metres hurdles to give Jamaica a second gold medal at the IAAF World Under-20 Championships in Bydgoszcz last night.

Hyde clocked 49.03 seconds to successfully defend the title he first won in Eugene, Oregon two years ago. Taylor McLaughlin of the United States (49.45) made a late challenge but was only able to get ahead of Kyron McMaster of the British Virgin Islands who posted a national Under-20 record of 49.56.

“I said it before, it didn’t matter the time to me I just wanted to come out here and defend my title as comfortably as possible,” said Hyde who will also be competing at the Rio Olympic Games starting next month.

“I went out hard but I didn’t think I went out hard enough but there is always room for improvement and I have to work towards that.”

The other medallist from the Caribbean came in the men’s javelin throw where Grenada’s Anderson Peters secured the bronze in a record-breaking event.

Peters posed a new national record of 79.65 metres to better his previous best mark of 78.28 set