Jody Ann Muir advances to final... 400m hurdlers look to repeat success

American-based 400m athlete Jody Ann Muir was the brightest spark for Jamaica during the opening stages of yesterday's action at the IAAF World Junior Championships in Athletics in Moncton, Canada.

The former Wolmer's Girls quarter-miler, now at Mississippi State University, clocked 53.20, which was good enough for third place in her semi-final, and was the fourth fastest time going into the medal round.

The other Jamaican in the event Jeneive Russell, failed to advance from semi-final three, after only managing seventh place with a time of 55.16.

It was a rough morning and afternoon sessions for the Jamaicans, as hopefuls Natoya Goule (800m) and Chad Wright (shot put) were among the Jamaican who failed to advance in their respective events.

However, Jamaica's 400m hurdlers will be looking to restore some pride and continue the country's excellent record in this event at this stage,when they take the field later today.

Female team captain Danielle Dowie and Ristananana Tracy make their debut this morning in the event's preliminary round and they will be hoping to make progress.

At the past six World Junior Championships, the country's female intermediate hurdlers have brought home medals in all, except the last Championships two years ago in Poland, where Ristananna's elder sister, Nikita, finished eight in the finals, with a time of 59.05.

Former Mannings High school standout, Allison Beckford was the first Jamaican to medal in the event, in Annecy, France at the 1998 Championships, she captured a silver medal after finishing second in 57.10 seconds. Her teammate, Peta Gaye Gayle, formerly of St Elizabeth Technical was fourth in the final in 57.73.

At the following Championships in Santiago, Chile, former St Jago High school hurdler, Melaine Walker won her first of two medals in the event at this level, as she set a then national junior record of 56.96 in finishing third for the bronze medal.

Two years later before her home crowd at the National Stadium in Kingston, Walker went one place better, as she took the silver medal behind the United States' Lashinda Demus who set a world junior record in winning the event. Walker clocked 56.03 for the silver as her teammate Camille Robinson of Manchester High helped to create history for the country, finishing third for the bronze medal in a personal best 56.14, as the country walked away with two medals in the event.

Bronze medal finish

Sherene Pinnock, formerly of Edwin Allen, continued the medal trend for Jamaica in the event at the 2004 Championships in Grosetta, Italy as she won her first of two medals at these Championships with a bronze medal finish with a then personal best of 57.54.

However, the sweetest moment for Jamaica at these Championships came two years later at the Beijing Meet, as the country pocketed its first and only gold medal so far in the event, as the former Mannings High school athlete, Kaliese Spencer who was then a student at the University of Technology, won the event in a world junior leading time and a national junior record of 55.11.

It was bonus for the country in the event, as Pinnock repeated her feat from the previous Championships, pocketing bronze in the event after finishing third in a personal best 56.67.