Jamaica’s Kavian Kerr won bronze on Friday’s (20 Aug) third day of the World Athletics U20 Championships in Nairobi, Kenya.
Kavian Kerr produced a personal best effort of 7.90 metres for his men’s long jump bronze medal. Erwan Konate of France won the event with a World U20 record of 8.12m.
Columbia’s John Andres Berrio picked up the silver medal with a national junior record mark of 7.97m.
Tina Clayon’s personal best effort of 11.09 in the women’s 100m on Thursday (19 Aug) gave Jamaica’s its only gold medal so far.
Ackera Nugent, one of the future stars of the championships, made light work of heat two to win in 13.35 and secured her place in the semi-finals.
She returned a few hours later to run 13.02, the fastest time going into the final, set for Saturday.
“This will be my second junior finals, so making it to the final again is like a big deal because I have been preparing well,” said the Jamaican hurdler.
“I want to enjoy the fact that I am one of the best eight girls out there competing in the finals,” added the Baylor University student.
Jamaica’s other entrance, Oneka Wilson, who ran 13.36 in the heats, returned with a semi-final time of 13.39. She is also in the final of the event.
Wilson said: “My plan was to make it to the finals, and I thank God for that. Going into the final, my plan is to get a medal; it doesn’t matter which one but a medal. Earlier on in the preliminaries, I set my personal best, which wasn’t really expected.”
In the boys’ high hurdles, Jamaica’s lone competitor Vashaun Vascianna book his place with a season-best 13.35, the second-best time going into the final. He ran 13.37 to win heat 2.
Sasha Zhoya of France ran a world U20 record of 12.93 to book his place.
Vascianna commented: “It’s okay to register a seasonal best timing; however, in 2019, I ran faster, but an injury has been keeping me from getting back to that level. That will not deter my objective to win the final, though. I feel I am strong enough to get to the podium.”
Both 200m ladies advanced to the final.
Brianna Lyston ran a personal best 23.18, the same time as the heat, to take the top spot in the final. Aaliyah Francis is the other Jamaican qualifier with a personal best of 23.70.
Bryan Levell, who false-started in the 100m semi-finals, failed to progress with 20.71.