Jamaica in relay finals

World Junior 100-metre champion Dexter Lee led the way as Jamaica's boys and girls' sprint relay teams produced impressive displays to advance to today's finals of their respective events at the 13th IAAF World Junior Champion-ships in Moncton, Canada.

Lee led Dwayne Extol, Bernado Brady and Odean Skeen to a world-leading junior time of 39.74 seconds to defeat Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Under-20 champions Trinidad into second place in 39.88 seconds.

Jamaica's world-leading time only lasted for a few minutes, however, as in the following heat the United States quartet raced to a new time of 39.69 to win ahead of Nigeria who clocked 39.95.

The quartet of Sideitha Palmer, Deandra Whitehorne, Diandra Gilbert and Shericka Jackson crossed the line in a season best 44.68 seconds to be the fourth fastest qualifiers going into the final which will be run at 2:30 p.m. (Ja time) today.

Their heat was won by previous world leaders Germany in 44.52 seconds. The United States with a world-leading time of 43.56 seconds are the fastest qualifiers after winning their heat ahead of Great Britain (44.62). For today's final the Jamaican coaching staff is expected to make a change as 100 metres hurdles finalist, Danielle Williams, is set to replace Jackson.

In yesterday's morning session a change in the weather saw improved performances by Jamaica's athletes.

Thursday's windy and rainy conditions changed to bright sunshine yesterday. All four athletes who participated in the early session, all advanced to the next round of their events with throwers Traves Smikle and Chad Wright leading the way. Both athletes had automatic qualification for the final of today's boys' discus, a first for Jamaica at any world level championships.

Smikle first threw a personal best of 59.59 metres in Group A to advance while Wright, in Group B, produced 59.99 metres with his first throw. Trinidad and Tobago's Quincy Wilson who won at the CAC Juniors two weeks ago failed to move on as he had three foul throws.

Both sprint hurdlers advanced to today's semi-finals of the boys' 110 metres event following third place finishes in their preliminary round. Kamal Fuller clocked 14.08 seconds in heat three while Stefan Fennell did 13.95 seconds in heat seven. The leading qualifier was Norway's Vladimir Vukicevic who won heat seven in 13.49 seconds.

Also in action today will be Ristananna Tracy who will be hoping to improve on her World Youth eighth-place finish when she competes in the girls' 400 metres hurdles final .

No walkover

Jamaica will also compete today in the heats of the boys' and girls' 4x400 metres.

The Caribbean grabbed another gold last night when hot favourite Jehue Gordon of Trinidad and Tobago won the 400 metres hurdles.

Despite winning in a world leading junior time of 49.30 seconds, it was not a walkover for the Trinidadian as after going out extremely hard he tightened a bit over the final two hurdles and had to call on his experience as Japan's Takatoshi Abe looked to pulling off a major upset. Gordon, however, held on grimly to the line as the Japanese took the silver medal in 49.46 seconds ahead of bronze medal winner, Leslie Murray (50.22) of the United States Virgin Islands.