Gold rush! Jamaica close best-ever WYC in fine style
Published:Monday | July 11, 2011 | 12:00 AM
André Lowe, Senior Staff Reporter
LILLE, France:
Jamaica ended yesterday's final day of the IAAF World Youth Championships (WYC) in Lille, France, in truly amazing fashion, mining four medals to push their final tally to nine, equalling the country's best-ever showing at the meet.
Chanice Porter showed her amazing fighting qualities to jump from sixth position to first with her final attempt in the girls' long jump, with a distance of 6.22m; while, as expected, the girls medley team also delivered - setting a new record in the event with anchor Olivia James taking the team across the line in 2:03.42 seconds, replacing the old best of 2:03.83.
Odail Todd rounded out an impressive showing for himself when he won silver in the 200m final to add to his 100m gold, with a personal-best time of 21 seconds flat and Shericka Jackson recovered from a nightmare start to win bronze in the female equivalent in 23.62 seconds.
Jamaica's medal haul matches their previous best in Ostrava, Czech Republic, in 2007, but this showing will go down as their best ever, considering that the country achieved its highest gold medal tally at the WYC, with the four that were mined here.
Jackson and 100m bronze medallist Christania Williams had vowed to take out their frustration at not winning gold in their respective individual events when the medley relay came around and they surely delivered; Williams leaving everyone for dead on her lead-off 100m leg, handing over to Jackson, who drove home the advantage on the 200m leg. Chrisann Gordon ran the 300m leg, while James closed with the 400m.
"We planned for it, we wanted revenge, so to speak, because I was not going to settle with just a bronze medal," said Williams after the race.
"This means a lot to us, we were determined to make things right and I'm happy that we were able to," Jackson chipped in.
Time for rest
Todd can finally put up a leg and get some rest after a busy campaign for the man from Cave Valley in Hanover, and he too was quite pleased with how things went for him at the championships.
"I can't thank God anymore, I'm very happy at how things went; I couldn't have asked for anything else," said Todd.
He was not, however, able to challenge for a third medal at these championships as injuries and simply fatigue prevented Jamaica from fielding a team in the boys' medley relay.
Team manager Trevor 'TC' Campbell was beaming at the end of the championships and paid homage to the coaching staff and the incredible spirit of the team which, he admitted, was about "one or two men short".
"This was a great effort from everyone; the athletes themselves and the management and coaching staff. When you look at everything that we had to contest, it's amazing what the athletes have been able to accomplish and I am extremely happy for them all and very proud," said Campbell.
The team is due to leave France this morning and should arrive in Jamaica close to midday tomorrow.