EUGENE, Ore. — Michael-Andre Edwards hopped, skipped and jumped his way into Jamaican history on Friday, producing a world under-20-leading 17.08 metres to capture the men’s triple jump title at the World Athletics U20 Championships.
Edwards’ gold was Jamaica’s first title of the championships and continued the country’s recent success in the event. He followed Jaydon Hibbert, who won the World U20 crown with a 17.27m effort in Cali in 2022.
American Miles Nesmith earned silver with a personal-best 16.79m, while China’s Zhuoyue Wang secured bronze with 16.36m.
Edwards’ victory highlighted another productive day for Jamaica, with Shanoya Douglas, Sashana Johnson, Gary Card and Tiana Marshall all qualifying for championship finals.
Douglas delivered the fastest of Jamaica’s sprint performances, winning her women’s 200m semifinal in 22.53 seconds.
She controlled the race from the bend and finished ahead of American Mariah Maxwell, who clocked 22.78. Douglas had earlier advanced comfortably from the opening round, winning her heat in 22.88.
Johnson will join Douglas in the final after producing two personal-best performances.
She opened her campaign by winning her heat in 22.95 before improving to 22.92 in the semifinal. Johnson finished second behind American Mia Maxwell, who won the race in 22.87.
Gary Card’s path to the men’s 200m final was far less straightforward.
The Jamaican initially appeared to have been eliminated after being disqualified following his opening-round race. Card had crossed the line second in 20.76, but the result was later amended and he was reinstated.
He returned for the semifinals and finished third in 20.64 to claim the final automatic qualifying place. American Blake Hamilton won in 20.38, with Barbados’ Jayden Green second in 20.46.
Card’s qualification completed a dramatic turnaround and kept alive his hopes of adding another medal after earning silver in the men’s 100m.
Jamaica also secured a place in the women’s 100m hurdles final through Marshall.
She won her opening-round heat in 13.10 before improving to 13.02 in the semifinal. Marshall again crossed the line first to qualify automatically for the championship race.
Switzerland’s Jil Sanchez finished second in 13.07, while American Madeline Cooper took third in 13.14.
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