Best day ever for Jamaica – seven medals!

Jamaica had its best single day ever at a global track and field event, picking up a total of seven medals at the World junior championships. This total includes four gold, two silver and a bronze. Jamaica sits second on the medal table with 12 medals; 5 gold, 4 silver and 3 bronze.

There were many high-class performances spread across track and field and it’s debatable which performance was best. It may have been the magnificent World junior record of 42.59 in the women’s sprint relay or the spectacular 17.27m championships record in the triple jump by Jaydon Hibbert. Both will be talked about for years to come.

The quartet of Serena Cole, Tina Clayton, Kerrica Hill and Tia Clayton, in that order, constituted the world record team.

Favourite Briana Lyston made no mistake in the final of the women’s 200m as she impressively waltzed away from the opposition to take gold in 22.63. Alana Reid added another medal in the event for good measure as she ran a personal record of 22.95 for bronze.

Brandon Pottinger created history when he became the first Jamaican to win gold in the high jump at a global event. He was the only competitor to clear 2.14m on a tough afternoon for jumpers who had to negotiate a wet surface.

Jamaica picked up another medal through Roshawn Clarke in the 400m hurdles final. He ran with the leaders for over 300m but made a mistake on the 9th hurdle, lost his balance and had to settle for the third position.

The men’s 4x100m finished in third, 39.35, but were promoted to second and silver when South Africa was disqualified.

On the final day, Jamaica should have another good harvest of medals. Jamaica will have a powerful 1-2 punch in the women’s sprint hurdles final. Kerrica Hill sparkled in one semifinal posting the overall fastest time of 12.87. Compatriot Alexis James was also brilliant, registering 12.94 to win her semifinal.

The preliminaries of the men’s discus saw Kobe Lawrence throwing 57.18m and Christopher Young 56.74m as both advanced.

The quartet of Oneika Brissett, Abigail Campbell, Rickiann Russell, and Oneika McAnnuff ran 3:34.92 to qualify for the final of the 4x400m while Malachi Johnson, Delano Kennedy, Derrick Grant and Shemar Palmer ran 3:07.32 to win their heat.

Machaeda Linton qualified for the women’s triple jump final with a 13.06m personal best.