Sprint hurdlers lead medal hunt today at World U-20

Sprint hurdlers Damion Thomas and Orlando Bennett will lead Jamaica's hunt for more medals on today's third day of competition at the IAAF World Under-20 Championships in Tampere, Finland.

Long jumper Wayne Pinnock won a bronze yesterday, and 16 athletes will be in action on another busy day for the country's athletes.

Thomas and Bennett are favourites to bag more silverware in the 110m hurdles final at 1:02 p.m. Jamaica time. Coming into the championships as the number one and two seeds respectively, both looked easy in qualifying for today's finals.

Relaxed in second

Thomas was quite relaxed in placing second in his semi-final heat in 13.37 seconds, behind winner Jason Nicholson of Great Britain in a new personal best of 13.32.

Bennett won his heat in 13.45 as the Jamaicans have the second-and third fastest times going to the finals and look set to grab two of the three medals.

Overseas-based Briana Williams will also be hunting gold in the women's 100 metres. She clocked 11.28 seconds in the preliminary round yesterday to be the fastest qualifier for the semi-finals.

Today at 10 a.m., she will be involved in semi-final two of the event. The final is set for 1:15 p.m. One of the expected highlights of the championships is her clash with world leader Twanisha Terry of the United States. Terry won her heat in 11.37. Jamaica's Ockera Myrie who finished third in her heat in 11.70, will run in semi-final three.

Jamaica will be involved in another final on the day at 12:10 p.m. Stacyann Williams placed third in her 400m semi-final in 53.00 seconds and advanced as one of the fastest losers.

Other Jamaicans scheduled to be in action are:

2:18 a.m: Long jump Women preliminary round:

Ackelia Smith, Susan Francis

2:35 a.m.: Men's 400m hurdles

Leonordo Ledgister, Malik James King

3:30 a.m: Men's 200m

Xavier Nairne

10:50 a.m: Women's 400m hurdles semi-finals

Shian Salmon, Sanique Walker

11:40 a.m: Men's 400m semi-finals

Chantz Sawyers, Christopher Taylor