Jamaica’s medal count improved by one on day three yesterday at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Nairobi, Kenya.

St Jago High School student Kavian Kerr produced a personal best (PB) of 7.90m for a bronze medal in the final of the Men’s Long Jump.

Kerr, who was struggling after his first two attempts, produced his best jump on his third attempt to advance for three more marks. He joins Women’s 100m winner Tina Clayton as the Jamaicans with medals in the Championships so far.

There was no luck for the other Jamaican in the event, Jordan Turner, as he failed to advance to the top eight. France’s Erwan Konate produced a World U20 leading mark of 8.12m for the gold medal while Jhon Andres Berrio took the silver in a Colombian national U20 record of 7.97m.

Jamaicans were involved in two other finals on yesterday’s programme, as Ackelia Smith contested the Women’s Triple Jump while Cedricka Williams competed in the Discus Throw. Williams, who went to the Championships as the fourth-ranked thrower in the event, had only one legal throw with 48.65m on her first attempt. She finished seventh. Smith’s best effort of 12.91m was only good enough for ninth place in her final.

Jamaica’s three competitors who were involved in the heats and semi-finals of the sprint hurdles are through to today’s finals. Top-ranked Ackera Nugent won her semi-final in 13.02 seconds to be the joint fastest advancing into today’s Women’s 100 metres hurdles final, as Switzerland’s Ditaji Kambundji, sister Switzerland’s Olympics 100m finalist Mujinga Kambundji, also won her semi-final in 13.02 seconds. The other Jamaican in the event, Oneka Wilson, won her semi-final in a PB 13.39s to advance with the fourth fastest time to the finals. The final is set for 8 a.m. Jamaican time and Wilson will run out of lane four while Nugent is drawn in lane seven.

Vashaun Vascianna , the lone Jamaican entered in the Men’s 110m hurdles, won his semi-finals in a season’s best (SB) 13.35s to book his final berth as the second fastest. Sasha Zhoya of France, the favourite for gold, produced a World U20 record of 12.93s to win his semi. The final takes place at 8:15 a.m Jamaican time with Vascianna drawn in lane seven.

There was also action in the 200m yesterday and while both Jamaican women advanced to the final, there will be no Jamaicans in the Men’s title race.

Brianna Lyston was the first Jamaican in action in semi-final one and she produced a PB of 23.18s for the runner-up spot behind winner, Christine Mboma of Namibia, in 22.41s. That which was then a championship record (CR), after she eclipsed the mark of 22.50s set by Jamaica’s Briana Williams in her gold medal run at the staging of the meet in Tampere, Finland, in 2018. It did not last long as Mboma’s countrywoman, Beatrice Masilingi, the 100m silver medallist behind Clayton, competing in the second semi-final, won in 22.19s.

In the third semi-final, Francis finished second in a PB 23.70s to book her spot in the final as Nigeria’s Favour Ofili won in 22.37s. The finals is set for 9 a.m. Jamaican time where Lyston will start in lane three while Francis will run out of lane eight.

In the preliminary round on the men’s side, Gregory Prince finished eighth in his heat in 21.53s and was eliminated. Bryan Levell finished third in his semi-final in 20.71s, which was 11th overall and failed to move on.

Shantae Foreman was also in action in the Women’s Long Jump yesterday and advanced to Sunday’s final after finishing second in her group and fourth overall with 6.27m.

Discus throwers Ralford Mullings and Trevor Gunzell will be the first Jamaicans in action today, competing in the first session of the Men’s event. Gunzell will be the first in action as he will compete in Group A at 2:45 a.m. Jamaican time while Mullings, the second-ranked discus athlete at the Championships, will compete in Group B at 3:36 a.m.

Roshawn Clarke and Devontie Archer will be hoping to book their final berths in the 400m hurdles as the Men’s semi-finals is set for the second session today.

Archer will be the first in action, in semi-final one, at 7 a.m. Jamaican time, as he will run out of lane three while Clarke will run semi-final three out of lane three at 7:18 a.m. Jamaican time.

Chevonne Hall will be the other Jamaican in action in the second session as he will compete in the semi-finals of the Men’s 800 metres at 3:38 a.m. He will run out of lane seven in semi-final two.

- R.G.