Impressive Simmonds in final

Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter

Junior Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Under-17 champion, Megan Simmonds, blazed her way to a new personal best in the girls 100m hurdles, leading a total of five Jamaican athletes who booked spots in finals at the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore yesterday.

Simmonds clocked 13.64, improving her previous best of 13.08, to finish ahead of China's Yarong Zheng (13.76) and Switzerland's Noemi Zbaeren (13.78).

The young Jamaican will head into Saturday's final with the second fastest time overall, with Russia's Ekaterina Bleskina finishing with the event's best time in 13.32.

While securing slightly less impressive results, Janieve Russell, Olivia James, Stefan Fennell and Sasha-Gaye Marston all advanced to finals in their respective events.

Russell's best leap of 5.87 was good enough for eighth place in the girls long jump, as Romania's Alina Rotaru posted an impressive 6.40 for first place.

James clocked 55.05 to finish third in heat two of the girls 400m behind Bianca Razor of Romania (53.89) and South Africa's Izelle Neuhoff (55.01). James' time was seventh best overall, which will be good enough for her to line up with the events top eight for Saturday's final.

Fennell finished second behind Cuba's Yordan Olivera in heat three of the boys 110m hurdles in 13.89, good enough to secure a spot in the final as the seventh best qualifier. Australia's Nicholas Hough recorded the event's fastest time, as he posted an impressive 13.50.

Marston booked her place in the girls discus final after registering 43.73m with her first throw, but failed to improve after she fouled her second and third attempts.

Finished fifth

Manchester High 400m runner, Lennon Williams, failed to make the grade as he finished fifth in heat four of his event, posting a time of 52.27. This was well below his personal best of 47.94, recorded at the Junior CAC Games earlier this year.

Fredric Dacres also failed to make the cut as his throw of 52.69m in boys discus qualifying saw him finish 12th.

Brian Forte also failed in his bid to make the final of the men's 50m freestyle, after finishing third in heat four of that event.

In today's action, Odean Skeen will begin his quest to land 100m gold when he contest heat three of the event.

Ashiana Miller will do well to get among the finalists when he begins the boys shot put qualification. Shanice Hall will contest the girls high jump, while Kendice Nangle will return to the pool in the 50m backstroke - heat one.