Bronze medals lift tally to five

André Lowe, Senior Staff Reporter

LILLE, France:

Jamaica's medal tally climbed to five after Chanice Porter (high jump) and Olivia James (400m) added a pair of bronze medals to the nation's IAAF World Youth Championships medal cabinet with third-place finishes in their respective events, on yesterday's third day of the meet.

Porter cleared 1.82 metres in the girls' high jump final, while James surprised with a powerful 52.14 seconds personal best in the 400m, the same event that saw pre-championship gold medal contender and former world leader Chrisann Gordon crash to a shock seventh-place finish.

It was heartbreak for the Holmwood Tech-nical standout, who was too distraught to speak after the final, which was won in a blistering world leading and personal best by Bahamian Shauntae Miller, 51.84 seconds, ahead of Canada's Christian Brennan 52.12 seconds.

James was a bit surprised herself with her performance, and says that she is happy to have proven, even to herself, that she has the talent to go on to greater things.

"I went out there to do my best, but I'm a little surprised at how well I did. I didn't panic, I kept my form, put everything into it and came through," said James.

"I knew I had to come off the 300m without them passing me to be in with a medal chance, and that's what I did," she added.

Porter had an interesting outing in the high jump final, missing at the earlier marks before barely failing to clear 1.85m, which would have taken her into contention for the gold medal.

The classy Manchester High school star is, however, happy with the bronze and will now turn her attention to her duties in the long jump.

"It feels good, I think I could have done better but it feels great knowing that I medalled; bronze is good so I am happy," said Porter.

Tyler Mason rounded off a positive campaign for himself after posting his second personal best of the day, but it was not enough in the boys' 110m hurdles final after his 13.74 seconds left him back in sixth.

Compatriot Omar McLeod was closer to a medal after finishing fourth, also in a personal best time of 13.61 seconds.

In the girls' 800m semi-finals, Jamaica's competitors Simoya Campbell and Marleena Eubanks both struggled and finished down the track; failing to make progress to the final.

Crawled across line

Campbell, who got out in a hurry - running in the 26-second region over the first 200m or so - faded badly in the last 150m and virtually crawled across the finish line in 2:15.22 seconds and seventh place.

Eubanks was also out of her depth, but was a bit stronger towards the end, registering 2:12.47 seconds, also good enough for seventh.

Shericka Jackson, 24.08 seconds, and Kadisha Dallas, 25.09, finished second and fourth in their respective heats, with the former progressing safely to the next round in the 200m.

World Youth 100m champion Odail Todd and Odean Skeen are also through to the 200m semi-finals after victories in the first round. Todd won his heat in 21.60 seconds, while Skeen posted 21.75 seconds.

In the heptathlon, Gleneve Grange is in 24th position on 2,874 points after four completed events. Grange posted personal best marks in all disciplines - finishing seventh in the 100m hurdles, 16.38; ninth in the high jump, 1.60m; winning her shot put group, 12.11m, and placing second in her 200m, 25.94.