SPORTS Last Updated: Jul 19, 2013 - 7:19:32 PM Jamaica does region proud with !AAF World Youth victory By Alpheus Finlayson Jul 18, 2013 - 11:41:39 AM Email this article Printer friendly page Jamaica-wins-Medley-Relay-in-World-Youth-Best.jpg Jamaica wins Medley Relay in World Youth Best The IAAF World Youth Championships was started in 1999. Jamaica has always done well in these championships which feature athletes who are not eighteen in the year of competition. In 2011 they finished third behind Kenya and the USA. Over the weekend in the Ukraine, Jamaica ran, jumped and threw themselves beyond the others to become the overall medal winner of this year’s championships. This is indeed historic when comparing the population of Jamaica with those of the USA, Kenya, Ethiopia, and other athletic giants. Michael-O_Hara_-Okeen-Williams_-Waseem-Williams-and-Martin-Manley-of-Jam__.jpg Michael O_Hara, Okeen Williams, Waseem Williams and Martin Manley of Jam Jamaica captures six Gold medals and two Bronze medals for a total of eight medals. Kenya, the 2011 second place finisher won four Gold medals, three Silver medals, and four Bronze medals, for a total of eleven medals. Ethiopia won three Gold medals, three Silver medals, and two Bronze medals, a total of eight medals. Australia won three Gold medals, and one Bronze medal for a total of four medals. The USA finished way down in fifth place with two Gold medals, seven Silver medals, and eight Bronze medals for a total of seventeen medals. Yanique-Thompson-of-Jamaica-running-World-Youth-Leading-time-in-the-Ukraine.jpg Yanique Thompson of Jamaica running World Youth Leading time in the Ukraine This is the lowest they have finished in memory. World Great Performances Keeping up the Cuban tradition, Lazaro Martinez won the Triple Jump with a championships record of 16.63m (54’6-3/4”). Turkey’s Emel Dereli heaved 20.14m (66’1”) in the Shot Put for a new championships record. In the sprints Sweden’s Irene Ekelund ran a championships record of 22.92sec for the 200m crown. Jamaica’s Michael Ohara ran a World Youth Leading performance of 20.63sec. Usain Bolt set the record of 20.40sec ten years ago in Sherbrooke, Canada. Ohara’s countryman Jaheel Hyde set a new championships record in the 110m hurdles with a 13.13sec clocking. In the 800m Anita Hindriksdottir of Ireland ran 2:01.15 for a new championships record. The men’s 1500m saw Kenyan Robert Kiptoo Biwot run 3:36.77 for a new championships record. The Jamaican men’s medley relay team ran a world’s best of 1:49.23. Caribbean Great Performances Some other Jamaicans had outstanding performances in the Ukraine. Jamaica’s Yanique Thompson ran 12.94sec for a World Youth leading performance. Marvin Williams ran 50.39sec for a World Youth leading time in the 400m hurdles. In the straight 400m Martin Manley ran 45.89sec for another World Youth leading performance. In the Women’s 400m hurdles South African Helene Swanepoel ran a World Youth leading time of 58.08sec for the victory. Barbadian Tia-Adana Belle ran a personal best of 58.42sec for the Silver medal. Robeilys Peinada of Venezuela cleared 4.25m (13’11-1/2”) for the Gold medal in the Women’s Pole Vault. And finally, kudos go to The British Virgin Islands for their Silver medal in the Women’s medley relay. The team of Melda Huggins, Taylor Hill, Tarika Moses and Jonel Lacy ran 2:07.40. This was the country’s first medal in the World Youth, and the second in the IAAF World Series. In 2008 at the World Indoor Championships in Valencia, Tahesia Harrigan-Scott won the Bronze medal in the 60m. Bahamian Performances In the last edition of this event, The Bahamas placed fourth with three Gold medals and one Bronze medal. Only Kenya, the USA, and Jamaica finished higher. This year The Bahamas had to settle for two finalists. This was the first time Bahamian male throwers qualified for the World Youth Championships. One was Drexel Maycock in the Discus and the other Denzil Pratt in the Javelin. Maycock failed all of his qualifying throws but Pratt set a personal best of 70.88m (232’-6-1/2”) in the qualifying round. Pratt went on to finish eleventh in the final with a throw of 64.20m(210’7-1/2”). Another field event athlete, LaQuan Nairn jumped a personal best of 2.16m(7’1-1/4”) in the High Jump for a fifth place finish. Nairn also participated in the Long Jump. Finally, on the last evening, The Bahamas Men’s medley relay team of Ian Kerr, Kinard Rolle, Henry Delauze and Keannu Pennerman finished in fifth place with a time of 1:52.97. A number of other Bahamian athletes did personal best. Forward to 2014 The next year looks quite promising for world and regional junior competition. Of prime interest is the World Junior Championships next year in Track Town, USA. Eugene will host the World Juniors. Next month the Pan Am Junior Championships will be held in Medellin, Colombia. The Central American and Caribbean region should be well represented. Bookmark and Share © Copyright 2013 by thebahamasweekly Top of Page
Posted on: Sat, 20 Jul 2013 02:45:21 +0000
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