Brianna Lyston and Jaydon Hibbert led Jamaican qualifiers on Thursday’s (4 Aug) opening session at the World Athletics Under-20 Championships at the Pascual Guerrero Olympic Stadium.
The two are among the 200 meters and triple jump favourites, respectively.
Hibbert, who won silver at last year’s Championships in Nairobi, quickly secured his passage to the final with a 16.37 meters effort.
“I am just trying to be as humble as possible and try to give it my best because the season was long. I am a bit tired now, but last one, best one,” he promised. Royan Walters will join Hibbert in the final with his 15.29m first-round effort.
Lyston topped heat 2 of the women’s 200 meters in 23.56 seconds, while her teammate Alana Reid, the heat three winner, advanced with 23.47.
“I just came out here to do my best and show everyone my talent,” Reid said. The women’s 200m semi-finals will be this afternoon at 4:15 pm.
Who won the women’s 100m final at the World U20 Championships?
Alexis James and Kerrica Hill were winners of their respective heats. James ran a personal best of 13.04, the fastest time of the preliminary round.
Reid said she had no idea the race was that fast. “The track feels great. I was just running the race to qualify,” she said when asked about her personal best mark.
Hill’s 13.30 was the day’s second fastest time. Both athletes return for the semi-finals tomorrow at 3:05 pm.
J’Voughnn Blake qualified for the men’s 800 meters on time with his 1:48.97 run. Adrian Nethersole, who was timed in 1:53.91, did not make the semi-finals.
