Tina on top again at World U20
Serena Cole makes it a Jamaica one-two in Women’s 100m
TINA Clayton established herself as one of the world’s greatest ever female sprinters at the junior level after she made it back-to-back titles in the vent at the World Athletics Under-20 Championships in Cali, Colombia, last night.
Clayton, winner of the event in Nairobi, Kenya, last year, produced a championship record 10.95 seconds for gold. Serena Cole made it a Jamaica one-two by taking silver in 11.14. Shantwi Jackson of the United States took bronze in 11.15.
Clayton’s coach, Michael Dyke, expected the result. “I was not surprised by the result,” he said after the race in Cali.
“Coming to the championships I was always confident that it would have been one-two. I was not worried about the fast times a few other athletes were running in earlier rounds as both Tina and Serena were running under instructions to save for the final.”
After last night Jamaica are third on the medal table with one gold and three silver medals. The United States lead with three gold, a silver and two bronze while Kenya are in second with two gold, and two bronze.
A thunderstorm and heavy rain just before the running of the men’s 200m semi finals forced a two-hour long delay in the afternoon session.
In earlier action on the track, Roshawn Clarke and Andrew Forbes advanced to today’s semi-finals of the men’s 400m hurdles after winning their respective heats. Clarke stopped the clock at 50.71 seconds to be the third fastest qualifier while Forbes clocked a moderate 52.45 to be the 19th best qualifier.
No Jamaican will be in the women’s 400m hurdles final as Oneika McAnnuf failed to advance. Competing in semi-final three she ended sixth in 59.74 which was 17th overall.
Bryan Levell, running for the first time since a hamstring injury in early May, advanced to today’s final of the men’s 200m. Level won his semi-final in an impressive personal best of 20.34 seconds to advance as the third fastest to the finals. The final is set for 6 p.m.
Today will be very busy for the Jamaican athletes. Three of the country’s gold medal favourites will make their first appearances at the meet with sprint hurdler Kerrica Hill the first to be in action. .The world leader in the 100m hurdles, with a best of 12.98 seconds will compete at 9:05 a.m in the first heat. Alexis James will run in heat five at 9:33 a.m.
Jaydon Hibbert, the world leader in the men’s triple jump with 16.66 metres, will be in action at 12:15 p.m.
His teammate Rayon Walters will compete at 11:00 a.m.