10.95!

Cali, Colombia:

A THUNDERSTORM, accompanied by heavy rains, just before the running of the men’s 200 metre semi-finals caused a long delay in the afternoon session of the World Under-20 Championships in Cali, Colombia, but that did not dampen the mood of Jamaican Tina Clayton.

The meet, delayed by nearly two hours, seemed to spur on the performance of the defending world champion, who duly obliged an expectant crowd to run away from her rivals in a new national under-20 and championship record, 10.95 seconds.

Clayton’s multitalented teammate, Serena Cole, made it a one-two finish, clocking 11.14 to land just just one hundredth outside of her personal best.

Shantwi Jackson of the United States, daughter of 400-metre hurdler Bershawn Jackson, took bronze in a personal best, 11.15.

In earlier action on the track, both Roshawn Clarke and Andrew Forbes advanced to today’s semi-finals of the men’s 400-metre hurdles after winning their respective heats.

Clarke stopped the clock at 50.71 seconds to be the third-fastest qualifier, while Forbes clocked a moderate 52.45 seconds to be the 19th best qualifier.

The semi-finals are scheduled for today.

No Jamaican will be in the Women’s 400m-hurdles final today as Oneika McAnnnuf failed to advance. Competing in semi-final three, she ended sixth in 59.74 seconds.

PERSONAL BEST

Bryan Levell bounced back to good form, running for the first time since a hamstring injury in early May to advance to today’s finals of the Men’s 200 metres. Levell won his semi-final in an impressive personal best of 20.34. Earlier, he finished third in his preliminary heat in 20.85. The final is set for 6:00 p.m.

Three Jamaicans, two men and a woman, are through to the 400-metre finals.

Dejanea Oakley finished second in her semi-final in 52.29 seconds, while Rikianna Russell failed to advance after finishing seventh in her semi final in 54.44.

Both Delano Kennedy, who won his semi-final in a personal best 45.49 seconds, and Shaemer Uter, who ended second, also in a personal best 45.96 seconds, advanced.

In the final of the men’s 110-metre hurdles, Jamaica’s sole competitor, Demario Prince, fell at the 10th hurdle and did not finish the race, won by the Bahamas’ Antoine Andrews in a world under-20 leading 13.23.

Today will be a very busy day for the Jamaicans, with three of the country’s gold medal favourites making their first appearances.

Sprint hurdler Kerrica Hill, the world leader in the women’s under-20 100-metre hurdles, with a best of 12.98 seconds, will first be in action. Hill’s teammate, Alexis James, is also down for the sprint hurdles heats.

World leader in the men’s triple jump, with 16.66 metres, Jaydon Hibbert, will contest Group B of the preliminary round, while countryman Rayon Walters will compete in Group A.

Top seed in the 200 metres, Brianna Lyston, with a season’s best, 22.53 seconds, is also on show for the first time today, along with teammate Alana Reid.

The preliminary round of the men’s and women’s 4x100 metre relays is also on today. Jamaica’s women are the defending champions and world record holders.