Gold, silver, and the blues for Jamaica in Kenya

There is a bittersweet feeling in the Jamaican camp at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Nairobi, Kenya. It is understood that five members of the national team, three females and two males, tested positive for COVID-19 on the same day youngster Ackera Nugent realised her dream of gold in the Women’s 100m hurdles final, while Vashaun Vascianna claimed a silver medal in the Men’s 110m hurdles (99.0cm) equivalent.

Team officials offered very little information to The Gleaner, saying a report will be released in due time, but did say that the five athletes have been withdrawn from competition.

Nugent won her event in 12.95 seconds while Vascianna finished second in a personal best (PB) 13.25s.

Nugent, a former Excelsior High School athlete, who just had a fabulous season for Baylor University on the NCAA circuit, went into the Championships as the number one ranked athlete in the event and did not disappoint as she ran a flawless race. Her chance was made much easier as second ranked, Ditaji Kambundji, who clocked an identical time of 13.02s to Nugent in the semi-finals, and who was mounting a strong challenge to the Jamaican, fell at the first hurdle, and was disqualified for impeding other athletes in the field. Only four finished the race. Anna Maria Millend of Estonia was way back into second place in 13.45s with Anna Tóth of Hungary ending third in 13.58s. Jamaica’s Oneka Wilson did not start the event because of illness.

Vascianna was at his very best with a good start to put early pressure on France’s Sasha Zhoya. However, the Frenchman, who went sub-13s to win his semi-final, showed his class in the latter stage to pull off an impressive win in a World U20 record of 12.72s, as Jakub Szymański of Poland finished third for the bronze in a PB 13.43s.

There was no luck for Jamaica in the Women’s 200m as Brianna Lyston, who initially finished fourth, was disqualified for a lane violation while Aalliyah Francis ended at the back in 23.96s. Namibia finished with a quinella as Christine Mboma, who was second in the event at the Tokyo Olympics, won in a championship record of 21.84s, ahead of Beatrice Masilingi (PB 22.18), as Favour Ofili took third in a Nigerian national U20 record of 22.23s.

Both Ralford Mullings and Trevor Gunzell, who were involved in the qualifying round of the Men’s Discus Throw for Jamaica yesterday, advanced to today’s finals of the event.

Competing in Group A, Gunzell advanced with a best of 51.37m, although not automatically, for sixth in his group and 11th overall.

Millings, the second ranked athlete in the event at the championships, was an automatic qualifier from Group A, with his second place overall with 62.49m.

Jamaica had mixed fortunes in the semi-finals of the Men’s 400m hurdles as only Devontie Archer advanced to today’s finals after finishing second in his heat in a PB 49.93s behind Berke Akçam in a Turkish national U20 record of 49.73s.

Roshawn Clarke, who was neck-and-neck with Sweden’s Osker Edlund, slowed down in the final 5m, misjudging the finish line, and was passed by Croatia’s Stjepan Jan Cik (51.83s), and Kenya’s Alocias Kipngetich (51.93s). He had to settle for fourth in 51.95s and missed the final as Edlund won in a season’s best 50.70s.

Despite a brave effort, Jamaica’s Chevonne Hall missed the Men’s 800m final by finishing sixth in his semi-final in a PB 1:48.50 minutes, which was 11th overall.

– R.G.

Finals involving Jamaica today

6:30 a.m. - Men’s Triple Jump - Jaydon Hibbert

7 a.m. - Women’s 400m Hurdles - Garriel Whyte

7:15 a.m. - Men’s 400m Hurdles - Devontie Archer

8:00 a.m. - Men’s Discus Throw - Ralford Mullings, Trevor Gunzell

8:25 a.m. - Women’s Long Jump - Shantae Foreman

8:35 a.m. Women’s 4x100m Relay

8:45 a.m. - Men’s 4x100m Relay

9:55 a.m. - Women’s 4x400m Relay

10:10 a.m. - Men’s 4x400m Relay