TAMPERE, Finland – Jamaica won three medals at the 16th IAAF World U20 Championships on Friday (13 July). Team captains Christopher Taylor and Shiann Salmon along with Chantz Sawyers were the medal winners.
Jamaica, after four days of competition, are third on the medal’s table with two gold, three silver and two bronze.
Kenya lead with four gold and one bronze over Great Britain three gold, one silver and a bronze.
In the men’s 400m final, Taylor, the only sub-45 man in the field, faded in the last few metres to lose out to Jonathan Sacoor of Belgium, who ran a national record 45.03.
Taylor crossed the line in 45.38 ahead of his teammate Chantz Sawyers, 45.89secs.
Salmon fought gallantly down the homestretch with South African Zeney Van Der Walt, but the latter proved a bit stronger in taking victory in 55.34. Salmon, who went out fast, finished second in 56.11.
Meanwhile, Briana Williams stayed on course for the sprint double. She ran 23.41 to beat the event’s favourite Jayla Kirkland of USA 23.54.
American Lauren Rain Williams had the day’s fastest time of 23.15.
Two Jamaicans, Leonardo Ledgister, 50.13 personal best, and Malik James-King, 50.34, booked their places in the men’s 400m hurdles.
Jhevaughn Matherson, Michael Stephens, Xavier Nairne and Orlando Bennett finished second in their men’s 4x100m heat of 39.68 to qualify for the final
Jamaica DQ’ed after crossing the line 5th in the women’s 4x100m in 45.20. The quartet Kimone Shaw, Ackera Nugent, Fredricka McKenzie and Kemba Nelson.
Owayne Owens, 14.79m, failed to make the final in the men’s triple jump
