Remember the name if you can. Bouwahjgie Nkrumie. A National Junior Record of 10.02 for silver in the final of the WU20 championship have set tongues wagging. A spectacular performance even from a country that is used to big sprinters. He got out well as usual, held his form and was only headed by Letsile Tebogo of Namibia who ran an unbelievable WJR of 9.91.
Kobe Lawrence dug deep to produce a personal best of 20.58m a secure a silver in the Shot Put. Lawrence got to the coveted mark in the 5th round but he also threw 20.36 in the 2nd round.
Jamaica’s first medal of the championships came from the team Jausana Dennis, Abigail Campbell, Malachi Johnson and Alliah Baker fought all the way for a bronze in the Mixed 4x400m relay. While the USA and India fought for Gold up front, Jamaica held off Great Britain and Northern Ireland to ensure a position on the podium.
Earlier in day, defending champion Tina Clayton breezed through her heat of the 100m like she was repeating kindergarten. After slowing down sharply near the end, she posted 11.38 for the win and advanced to the semifinals.
Serena Cole looked just as awesome as she did 11.39 to win her heat.
The fastest time of the round was put down by Tima Godbless of Nigeria who ran a NR 11.09.
Both Dejanea Oakley and Rickianna Russell qualified for the semifinals of the 400m. Oakley took things easy with 53.70, only doing enough to win her heat. On the other hand, Russell had to work hard to post 54.63 which advanced her on time.
The men equalled the women in qualification in the 400m as both Shaemar Uter (46.66) and Delano Kennedy (46.24 PB) will look to get into a tough final as fifteen athletes ran faster than 47 seconds.
Brandon Pottinger was in fine form in the high jump as he did enough to advance to the final with 2.08m.
Oneika McAnuff advanced to the semifinal of the 400mH the hard way. She led for 250m, stuttered and lost momentum and then had to run hard after the final hurdle to get into the top three, posting 59.45. Compatriot Safhia Hinds was eliminated after performing below her best, registering 1:00.97 to finish 6th in her heat.
Demario Prince did enough to qualify for the final of the 110mH, running 13.58 for second in his semifinal. Dishaun Lamb was 4th in his semifinal in 13.76 and did not advance.
In the semifinals 100m, Sandrey Davidson was an unfortunate man. He got out well but pulled up injured after only 30 metres. Bouwahjgie Nkrumie made no mistake in semifinal three and won with 10.11 to equal Jamaica’s then national junior record.