Wayne Pinnock won Jamaica’s first ever long jump medal at the IAAF World U20 Championships on Wednesday, July 11, 2018.
On Wednesday’s second day, Pinnock, who qualified for the final with 7.75m, lived up to his promise by taking bronze with a leap of 7.90m.
“A bronze medal is really good. I’ve been working really hard for this,” said the Kingston College (KC) schoolboy.
Like in the prelims, Pinnock best mark came on his first attempt. His second best jump was 7.83m done on his 3rd attempt.
“The experience has been really good and I am of course really happy,” he said.
After two days of competition, Pinnock is the only Jamaican to medal so far.
“It’s a very great feeling, knowing I am the first U20 boy to get a bronze for my country. I was also looking for a new personal best, but I didn’t get it,” he said.
Shakwon Coke, the other Jamaican in the final, finished 7th with 7.73m.
Stephens 7th in 100m at World U20 Championships
Meanwhile, in the men’s 100m final, Michael Stephens finished 7th in 10.31 seconds. Lalu Muhammad Zohri of Indonesia won the event in national record 10.18 seconds.
Earlier, Michael Bentley pulled out of the semi-finals with a hamstring injury. Stephens, in semi-final 2, ran a personal best 10.22 to qualify for the final.
Damion Thomas, 13.37 and Orlando Bennett, 13.45, both secured the places in the final of the men’s 110m hurdles.
Stacey-Ann Williams booked her spot in the women’s 400m final with 53.00 flat. This final is set for Thursday.
Shaquena Foote, who limped out with a hamstring injury on Tuesday, ran 2:08.02 and Chrissani May, who was taken off in a wheelchair after crossing the line in 2:10.70, did not make the 800m final.