Under-20s hunt medals in long jump

Jamaica will be hoping to be among the medals at the end of day two at the IAAF World Under-20 Championships in Tampere, Finland and with two athletes in the final of the men's long jump and coach Jeremy Delisser is very optimistic.

Delisser who is in Finland with the team is the the coach of long jumpers Wayne Pinnock and Shakwon Coke and he was in high spirits when The Gleaner spoke to him yesterday.

"Both of them have a chance for medals or do personal best distances once they execute," said Delisser.

It has been an excellent season so far for Pinnock whose 7.76 metres is the second best going into today's final. Japan's Hashioka Yuki leads the way with 7.92m. Coke goes in the final with the ninth best mark of 7.55m.

NOT WORRIED

"It has been a long season for them (Pinnock and Coke) and at some stage they got some rest. After the National Championships there were some soreness so we just had to deal with physio work to get them back healthy " added Delisser.

Three athletes entered the championships jumping over eight metres but Delisser is not worried.

"This was not a concern for us as it was about our boys executing and once they do that they will be competitive," Delisser said.

Today's final is set to get underway at 9:55 a.m Jamaica time.

Today's second session will see six other Jamaicans competing in semi-final action. At 9:10 a.m, Chrissani May and Shaquena Foote will compete in the women's 800m.

Both Michael Stephens and Michael Bentley will be hoping to put themselves in medal contention for the men' s 100m final when they compete in the semi-finals at 9:50 a.m. Stephens who won his heat yesterday, is the second fastest qualifier after his new personal best of 10.30 seconds while Bentley is the fourth fastest after his second place in 10.34.

After producing a season's best 52.71 seconds for a second-place finish in her 400m heat, Stacy Ann Williams will be hoping to advance to the final when she competes in the semi-finals tomorrow.