Jamaica wins 11 medals in Nairobi!

Jamaica ended the World U20 Championships in style, taking home 11 medals; three gold, six silver and two bronze. All four relay teams secured medals on the final day.

Pride of place goes to the quartet of Serena Cole, Tia Clayton, Kerrica Hill and Tina Clayton who put on a clinic in relay running as they crushed the world junior record in the 4x100m with a stunning 42.94! They led from gun to tape. When Tia Clayton got the baton at the final exchange, she blitzed the last 100m knowing that there was great opposition behind her in Namibian Beatrice MBoma. In the end, Jamaica won by more than 20m.

The male quartet of Alexavier Monfries, Bryan Levell, Andrew Gilipps and Sandrey Davison were very smooth in their exchanges and were only beaten by a world record run of 38.51 by South Africa. They executed excellent exchanges and managed to post a credible 38.61 for silver.

Annalee Robinson, Aaliyah Francis, Alliah Baker and Daena Dyer were no match for Namibia who won the 4x400m women’s final in 3:31.46 but they were good for silver in 3:36.51.

Finally, Malachi Johnson, Jeremy Bembridge, Taj Hamm and Devonte Archer ran well for silver in the 4x400m in 3:05.76. Namibia won in 3:05.22.

Jaydon Hibbert gave Jamaica its first medal in the triple jump at these championships, posting 16.05m for silver. The 16 year old was a picture of calm and composure as he completed the phases on his second attempt which put him in a medal position for good.

Jamaica picked up a second medal in the field, silver in the discus for men when Ralford Mullings threw 66.68m for silver. Trevor Gunzell was sixth with 58.32m.

Devonte Archer put up a valiant fight in the final of the 400m hurdles and his effort paid off long after the race was done. He ran a powerful first 200m and was even with the leaders at 300m. He was overhauled in the last 100m and finished 4th in a PB 49.78. Moments later, the winner was disqualified and Archer was promoted to bronze.

Shantae Foreman spanned 6.47m for fourth in the women’s long jump final.

Nugent, Vascianna win medals!

Jamaica ended day four in Nairobi with four medals, thanks to outstanding performances from two sprint hurdlers. Ackera Nugent gave Jamaica their third medal, a gold in the 100m hurdles.

Nugent got a quick start in the final, held her composure even when others struggled around her and went on to win easily in 12.95. Jamaica’s second finalist in the event, Oneika Wilson did not report to the start.

The 4th medal was earned by Vashaun Vascianna in the 110m hurdles final. He made a couple of mistakes but hang tough throughout to finish second in a personal best of 13.25. His silver medal took Jamaica’s tally to four overall, two gold a silver and a bronze.

The team of Antonio Hanson, Taj Hamm, Malachi Johnson and Jeremy Bembridge finished second in their heat of the 4x400m relay with 3:05.82 to qualify for the final.

The 4×100m relay team of Alexander Monfies, Bryan Levell, Andrew Gilipps and Sandrey Davison ran a season’s best of 39.00 for second in their heat and a spot in the final.

The final of the 200 metres for women was tough for the two Jamaicans. Brianna Lyston was disqualified after finishing 4th with a PB 23.04 and Aaliyah Francis finished 7th in 23.96.

Kerr gives Jamaica bronze in LJ!

Kavian Kerr raced down the runway and produced 7.90m in the men’s long jump final, enough to secure a bronze medal for himself and Jamaica. The winner was Erwan Konate of France with 8.12m. Jhon Andres Berrio of Colombia was second with 7.97m. Kerr’s bronze was the second medal for Jamaica in Nairobi after the Gold won by Tina Clayton in the 100m a day earlier.

Shantae Foreman spanned 6.27m in the preliminaries of the women’s long jump to advance to the final, while Cedricka Williams threw 48.65m in the discus for 7th in the final.

Briana Lyston ran 23.18 for second in the semifinal of the 200m. She was beaten by Olympic silver medalist Christine Mboma.

Bryan Levell finished third in his semifinal of the men’s 200m in a time of 20.71 and did not make it to the final.

In the women’s sprint hurdles, Oneka Wilson won her semifinal in 13.39 while top seed Ackera Nugent won her’s in 13.02 to give Jamaica a great double shot in the final.

Vashaun Vascianna won his semifinal of the men’s 110m in 13.35 to advance to the final.

Tina as good as gold!

Jamaica snatched their first medal in Nairobi today; a gold by precocious sprinter Tina Clayton. She was even better than advertised in the 100m final. The 17-yr old Edwin Allen star blew away the field to win in a personal best 11.09, almost three metres ahead of Namibian Olympic 200m finalist Beatrice Masilingi who posted 11.39 for second. The other Jamaican finalist Kerrica Hill was 7th in 11.67.

In other events, all four athletes advanced in the 400m hurdles.

Garriel White won her semifinal in 58.65 while teammate Moseiha Bridgen was second in her semi in 58.88.

In the men’s category, Roshawn Clarke won his heat in 50.93 while Devonte Archer won his heat in 52.17.

Chevone Hall advanced to the next round of the 800m when he finished third in 1:49.47 in the heats.

On the field, Kobe Lawrence threw 18.82m to finish 8th in the final, while Ackelia Smith qualified for the triple jump final with 12.99m in the preliminaries.

Tina Clayton looks good for a medal.

Tina Clayton was in irrepressible form on the first day of the World U20 Championships in Nairobi, Kenya. She breezed through her heat of the 100m without breaking a sweat and then returned to run an easy 11.34 in the semifinal later in the day. Teammate Kerrica Hill also qualified for the final with the 8th fastest time of 11.60.

Both will have their hands full with the emergence of Namibian Olympic 200m finalist Beatrice Masilingi, who posted the fastest time of 11.20 in the heats. The final is set for Thursday morning Jamaica time.

Kobe Lawrence was the only athlete in the field on the first day and he did not disappoint. He launched the shot 18.65m to qualify for the final with the sixth best throw overall.

The men’s 100m proved a mountain too high for the Jamaicans. Bryan Levell false started in the semifinal and Alicke Cranston was well off his best with 10.94 and did not advance.

The quartet of Shemar Uter, Aliah Baker, Aaliyah Francis and Malachi Johnson missed out on a medal as

they finished 4th in the 4x400m Mixed Relay. They ran 3:23.04 with Nigeria setting a Championship record of 3.19.70 for the win.

The Heats of the 400m for women saw Annalee Robinson finishing 5th in a time of 56.56 and did not advance whilst Oneika McAnuff won in 54.13 and qualified for the semifinal.

The men did not produce good results in the 400m, Jeremy Bembridge did not finish his heat while Taj Hamm returned 47.73 for 7th and did not advance.