Reid unleashes golden run at World U20 Championships

ALANA REID put Jamaica on the medals table yesterday, winning gold in the 100 metres final in commanding fashion at the World Under-20 Championships in Lima, Peru.

Reid, who was the bronze medallist in the 200 metres in Cali, Colombia, two years ago, ensured that Jamaica maintained its stranglehold on the title, with consecutive successes over the last four championships.

This followed wins by Briana Williams in Tampere, Finland, in 2018 and back-to-back wins by Tina Clayton in Nairobi in 2021 and Cali in 2022.

Out of the blocks early, Reid was never challenged in her 11.17-second sprint to the finish line and spread her arms at the realisation that she was the World Under-20 champion.

The Olympian and national junior record holder (10.92) led a Caribbean sweep of the medals, with the British Virgin Islands' Adaejah Hodge placing second in 11.27, and Barbados' Shawna Niles third in 11.37.

In the men's final, Jamaica missed out on the medals as Deandre Daley, 10.33, and Gary Card, 10.44, had to settle for fourth and sixth, respectively.

South Africa took gold and bronze in the event through Bayanda Walaza, 10.19, and Bradley Nkoana, 10.26. Thailand's Puripol Boonson separated the two for silver in 10.22.

Earlier, Jamaica had been finding the going really tough, with a number of athletes either failing to qualify for finals, semi-finals or just about making it.

In early action, Kelly-Ann Carr was the only female through to the semi-finals of the women's 400m hurdles, which is scheduled for tomorrow. Carr ended fourth in her heat in 1:00.61 minutes, which was 26th overall. There was no such luck for Deschanique Douglas, who finished ninth in her heat, clocking 1:05.48, the slowest time of all the competitors.

On the other side of the coin, both males made the semi-finals of the 400-metre hurdles. Daniel Wright was the best of the Jamaicans, winning his heat in 51.42 seconds, the fourth quickest of the qualifiers.

Teammate Trevoy Smith also advanced after ending fourth in his semi-final in 52.15.

Dawkins in triple jump final

In the lone field event involving Jamaicans, Jade-Ann Dawkins booked her spot to the final of the women's triple jump. Dawkins just made it into the final, holding on to the 12th and final spot after finishing fourth in her group with a distance of 12.82 metres.

Teammate Jaeda Robinson wasn't so fortunate though, her best hop, skip and jump marking the sand at 12.53 metres.

It will be a very busy first session for the Jamaicans when the third day of competition gets under way today, with nine athletes in action.

Defending champion in the women's 100m hurdles, Kerrica Hill, will be the first Jamaican in action. Hill, the world leader in the event with 12.85 seconds, will take to the track in the first heat and will run out of lane one.

Teammate Habiba Harris, who is the second fastest in the event with 12.95 seconds will be in action in heat four and will run out of lane five.

In the men's 110m hurdles, Daniel Beckford and Richard Hall face the starters this morning, while there will also be action in the preliminary round of the 200 metres where Jamaica will have four entrants.

The women will go first with Sabrina Dockery in heat one and world leader Shanoya Douglas, who has a best of 22.59 seconds, in heat two.

Junior Gallimore is in heat two of the men's 200 metres, while Romario Hines completes action for Jamaica in the half-lap event in heat five.

Female high jumper Shannique Williams will be the only Jamaican in the field, competing in group 'B' of the preliminary round.

Chavez Penn will line up for the men's triple jump final in the evening, after qualifying in 12th spot on day one.

There will be no Jamaicans in the men's or women's 400 metres finals today, following semi-final action yesterday.

Kemarrio Bygrave, the only Jamaican male to advance from the preliminary round earlier in the day, ended fourth in his semi-final in 47.56 seconds.

Earlier in the preliminary round, Jabari Matheson failed to advance after finishing fifth in his heat in 49.34.

Shanque Williams, the lone female to advance to the semi-finals, could only manage a seventh-place finish in 54.47.

Abrina Wright had earlier failed to move forward from the preliminary round after finishing sixth in her heat in 54.63.