New nat’l record, pair of silver get U20s off and running

Cali, Colombia:

LED BY excellent sprinting from Bouwahjgie Nkrumie, who finished second for silver in the men’s 100 metres in a national junior record, 10.02 seconds, Jamaican athletes put their first notches on the medal table on yesterday’s second day of the World Athletics Under-20 Championships in Cali, Colombia.

There was also a personal best for thrower Kobe Lawrence in the men’s shot put, his throw of 20.58 metres bringing silver.

With the lead among the top three changing on a regular basis, Lawrence used his fifth attempt to steal second, while Tarik O’Hagen of the United States won with a personal best 20.73. Tizan Nooh Lovia of Germany finished third with 20.55.

In the 4x400 mixed relay 4x400, the team of Jasuana Dennis, Abigail Campbell, Malachi Johnson and Aaliyah Baker picked up bronze in three minutes, 19.98 seconds (3:19.98).

Nkrumie, who saw his teammate Sandrey Davison pull up injured in his semi-final, gave glimpses that he was in fine form in his precursor to the final, clocking 10.11 seconds to equal Yohan Blake and Christopher Taylor’s previous national record.

In the final, he was off to his usual fast start, but the brilliant Letsile Tebogo of Botswana still romped to victory in a championship and world under-20 record of 9.91 seconds. Benjamin Richardson of South Africa finished third in 10.12.

“It is a very good feeling to represent your country. It is always a privilege and to get a medal is a great accomplishment for me after an up and down season. I want to dedicate this to my friends and family, who have always supported me,” said Nkrumie.

The Kingston College captain at this year’s ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships said seeing Davison’s injury shook him, but then it also became the catalyst for his performance.

Defending 100-metre female champion and world leader Tina Clayton and teammate Serena Cole made their first appearances on the track yesterday, easily winning their heats to advance to today’s semi-finals.

Running out of lane eight in heat one, Clayton got out of the blocks quickly, drove for 50 metres then coasted home in an easy 11.38, the sixth-fastest time going into the semi-finals.

“For me today (yesterday) it was just to get a good start and execute properly. I am not worried about going forward as the objective is to just stay focused and deliver,” said Clayton when asked about the challenge that could come from Nigeria’s Tima Seikeseye Godbless, who won her heat in a national record, 11.09, to advance as the fastest qualifier.

Cole, who won her heat in 11.39 seconds to advance with the seventh-fastest time, was also unbothered.

“The race was okay as I followed the instruction from my coach after leading for the first 70 metres, and if there was no threat just to ease down at the end,” she said.

N’ketia Sech of the Netherlands also posted a national record after winning her heat in 11.16 seconds to be second best overall while the United States Shanti Jackson, daughter of 400m hurdler, Bershawn Jackson, posted a personal best 11.28 seconds to win her heat and advance as the third best.

The semi-finals are slated for today at 3:05 p.m. with the final down to take place at 6:35. Clayton will go up against Seedo in semi-final two, while in the third semi-final, Cole will face Godbless.

Both males and females are also through to today’s semi-finals of the 400 metres following first-round action yesterday.

Top-ranked Dejanea Oakley looked easy in winning her heat in 53.70 seconds to qualify third overall. Teammate Rickianna Russell took fourth in her heat in 54.63 seconds to be the 21st-fastest qualifier.

In the men’s one lap, it was also smooth sailing for both Jamaicans. Delano Kennedy took third in his heat in a personal best of 46.24 seconds.

Shaemer Uter ended second in his heat in 46.66 seconds to advance, seventh overall.

The women’s semi-final is set for 5:00 p.m. and the men’s at 5:55 p.m.

Oakley will run out of lane six in semi-final two and Russell out of lane two in semi-final three for the women. Among the men, Uter will come out of lane five in semi-final one, while Kennedy will do so out of lane three in semi-final three.

In the women’s 400-metre hurdles, only Oneika McAnnuff was able to advance to the next round after finishing third in her heat in 59.45 seconds. There was no luck for Safhia Hinds after she finished sixth in her heat in 1:00.97.

The semi-finals are down for 3:05 p.m. today and McAnuff will run out of lane eight in semi-final three.

Sprint hurdler Demario Prince will contest the men’s 110-metre hurdles final today at 6:25 p.m. after finishing second in his semi-final yesterday with a personal best of 13.58 seconds. Teammate Dishaun Lamb failed to advance after a fourth-place finish in his semi-final in 13.76 seconds.