Hill strikes gold, Douglas mines bronze in Peru

JAMAICA PICKED up two medals on yesterday’s penultimate day of competition at the World Under-20 Championships in Lima, Peru, as defending champion, Kerrica Hill, retained her title, winning the women’s 100-metre hurdles, and Shanoya Douglas grabbed bronze in the women’s 200 metres.

Hill won the event in 12.99 seconds, finishing ahead of Mia Wild of Croatia, 13.15, and Delta Amidzovski of Australia in 13.24.

Hill, who came into the championships as the world leader and overwhelming favourite and had cruised through the first two rounds did not have things her own way, yesterday, especially in the first half of the race. However, she used her experience in the latter stages to shake off her opponents for the win.

The win means Hill joins countrywoman Gillian Russell as back-to-back champions in the event. Russell won titles in I990 in Sudbury and 1992 in Seoul.

Douglas, who came into the championships as the world leader in the women’s 200-metres ran her best race in the final, finishing third in 23.10 seconds.

Adaejah Hodge of the British Virgin Island, the 100-metre silver medallist, won the event in 22.74, finishing ahead of Torrie Lewis of Australia, 22,88.

In the men’s 110-metre hurdles, Richard Hall’s 13.46 seconds left him sixth behind the efforts of winner, the United States’ Ja’Kobe Tharp, who clocked a world under-20 leading 13.05. Tharp’s teammate, Andre Korbmacher, was second in 13.14 with third going to Yuanjiang Chen of China in 13.21. Jamaica with two gold and a bronze lie in seventh place on the medal table but could improve today with six finals, inclusive of three relays on the line.

World leader, Shaiquan Dunn, for instance, booked his spot in today’s men’s discus final.

Dunn advanced from the preliminary round yesterday after throwing 57.82 metres for sixth in his group and 11th overall. Teammate Chad Hendricks did not report for the event.

Triple jumper Jade-Ann Dawkins, who was the 12th and final qualifier from the preliminary round two days ago, will contest the finals today.

Daniel Wright was the only Jamaican to book a spot in the men’s 400-metre hurdles final today. Wright won his semifinal yesterday in 51.11 seconds to be the eighth-fastest qualifier.

Kelly-Ann Carr and Trevor Smith finished eighth in their semifinals and failed to move on.

The women’s 4x100-metre relay quartet of, Sabrina Dockery, Alliah Baker, Briana Campbell and Alana Reid, in running order, with smooth baton changes ensured that Jamaica had the fastest time of 43.81 seconds going into today’s final. Jamaica could make it three wins in a row following world- record breaking performances in Nairobi, Kenya, and Cali, Colombia. Jamaica also qualified quickest among the men, with the quartet of Jace Witter, Gary Card, Nyron Wade, and Deandre Daley stopping the clock at a season’s best 39.55 seconds.

The quartet of Abrina Wright, Shanque Williams, Anecia Campbell and Nastassia Fletcher clocked 3:38.04 minutes or second in the women’s 4x400 metres relay. They are the eighth-fastest qualifier going into today’s final.

There was no luck for the men’s quartet of Shadane Smith, Omary Robinson, Javaughn Pinnock, and Kemarrio Bygrave as they ended third in their heat in 3:11.30.