Jaheel Hyde Leads Jamaican Contingent at Razorback Invitational
Jaheel Hyde Leads Jamaican Contingent at Razorback Invitational

Caribbean supporters were cock-a-hoop today (July 23) in and out of the region, as their Jamaican supremo, Jaheel Hyde, led a two medal strike of their athletes in the men’s 400mh, nearing the end of the penultimate day of action at the newly named, IAAF World Under-20 Championships in Athletics, held in the Zawisa Stadium, Bydgoszcz, Poland.

The Jamaican multi-talent who boasts 110mh titles at both the World Youth and Youth Olympic Games levels in 2013 and 2014, respectively, sped to 49.03 to defend his World Junior Championships (the former name) title, won in Eugene two years ago.

Third place and the bronze medal came from The BVI’s Nyron McMaster, 49.56, a national record for the age group. The region’s total medal haul at this stage, was hoisted to eight.

With the women disqualified in the opening round for a lane violation, it was left to the men to increase the end of day tally to nine. It was not to happen, as sole finalist from the region, Jamaica faltered to an agonizing 4th place in a season best, 39.13 with the mighty USA running away with a world under-20 leader of 38.93.

Others from the Caribbean, in Sada Williams (BAR) and Jenae Ambrose (BAH) carried the region’s hopes into the women’s 200m final. The outcome saw the Bahamas girl, in the always disappointing – just missing a medal – fourth place, in 23.53 (-0.6). Williams would have been even more disappointed as she came in with a semifinal time ahead of Ambrose (23.35:23.44) but unfortunately, failed to finish.

The new world under – 20 champion, in a national record for her country in this age range, of 22.84, is Edidong Ofonime Odiong of Bahrain.

In an event – the semifinals of the 100mh – where the Caribbean could only muster two athletes, Jamaican Rushelle Burton lived to fight another day coming from her 13.21 (-0.1m/s wind) personal best and 2nd in heat 2 to rank her 5th on the qualifying ladder to the last day final. Her countrywoman, Jeanine Williams, despite a lifetime best of 13.39 (-0.6) for 5th in heat 1, was not so blessed for the final.

The top qualifier is the Belarussian, Elvira Herman, winning heat 3 in a national under-20 best of 12.97 (-0.9.)

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