Triple jumper Michael-Andre Edwards gave Jamaica its first gold medal at the World Under-20 Championships in Eugene, Oregon, last night, winning the men’s triple jump with a personal best and world-leading 17.08 metres with a legal wind reading of 1.1 metres per second.
Edwards, who was fourth after three rounds, moved into the lead with his fourth attempt but was overtaken by the United States’ Miles Nesmith before reclaiming top spot with his sixth and final jump.
Nesmith took silver with a personal best 16.79m, while China’s Zhoyue Wang secured bronze with a personal best 16.36m.
Several Jamaicans also booked places in today’s finals following yesterday’s semi-final action, with 100m silver medallist Shanoya Douglas and Sashana Johnson leading the way in the women’s 200m.
Douglas won her semi-final in 22.53 seconds to emerge as the fastest qualifier, while Johnson, who had earlier won her heat in a personal best, improved on that performance by finishing second in her semi-final in 22.92s, making her the fourth-fastest qualifier for the final.
The final is scheduled to bring the curtain down on today’s programme at 10:50 p.m. Jamaica time.
Gary Card also secured a place in the men’s 200m final after finishing third in his semi-final in 20.64s, the seventh-fastest time overall.
Jamaica’s Nathaniel Martin failed to advance to the final, set for 10:16 p.m., after placing sixth in his semi-final in 21.61s.
The United States’ Tate Taylor, the 100m gold medallist, is the fastest qualifier after winning his semi-final in 20.34s.
Yesterday also featured semi-final action in the sprint hurdles and 800m events, with only one Jamaican progressing to a final.
Tiana Marshall is the joint-fastest qualifier for today’s women’s 100m hurdles final, scheduled for 9:33 p.m. Marshall, who was involved in an epic battle, won her semi-final in 13.02 seconds, matching the time recorded by South Africa’s Tumi Ramokgopa in her semi-final victory.
Jamaica’s other representative, Ackeelah Bell, failed to advance after finishing sixth in her heat in 13.52s.
Marquies Page and Taj-Oneil Gordon also missed out on spots in the men’s 110m hurdles final. Page was unfortunate to finish fourth in his heat in a personal best 13.23s, while Gordon placed sixth in his heat in 13.46s.
Jamaica’s two representatives in the 800m semi-finals also failed to advance. Kevongaye Fowler finished eighth in her heat in 2:08.11, while Joel Morgan, who clocked a personal best 1:49.46, was fifth in his.
Today’s first session will feature Jamaica in relay action as well as the qualifying round of the men’s discus.
The women will contest the 4x400m relay at 12:45 p.m., with the men following at 1:20 p.m. In the 4x100m relays, the women will take to the track at 2:25 p.m. and the men at 2:35 p.m.
Men’s discus gold-medal favourite Joseph Salmon and Kemari Kennedy will compete in the qualifying round at 3:10 p.m.
In the second session, Jamaica will be hoping for another medal in the opening event, the 4x100m mixed relay final at 8:05 p.m., where the team will run from lane three.
The evening session will also see David Brown contest the men’s high jump final at 8:10 p.m., while semi-final action is scheduled in both the women’s and men’s 400m hurdles.
Shevaughn Thomas and Marria Crossfield will line up in the women’s event, while Robert Miller and Jahvanie Tyrell will compete in the men’s race.
