Jamaica ended the fourth day of the Cali22 World Athletics U20 Championships without a medal. The black-green-gold clad team contested three finals on the day with their best place, fifth in the women’s 400m finals.
Dejanea Oakley ran hard from lane eight but ended up in the fifth position, her time 52.31. The top four finishers, led by Yemi Mary John of Great Britain, 51.50, ran personal best times.
In the men’s 400m, Jamaica’s best medal hopeful, Delano Kennedy, was disqualified for a false start. Shaemar Uter, who was in the mix atop the final curve, faded to sixth in 46.36.
Lythe Pillay of South Africa won the event with a personal best of 45.29 ahead of Steven McElroy of the USA, 45.65.
Bryan Levell, who got a medial exemption from Jamaica Trials, showed he was short of work in the men’s 200m final. The Edwin Allen student, who ran a personal best of 20.28 in the semi-finals, could only manage 20.72 for sixth in the final.
Did Letsile Tebogo win the men’s 200m at World U20 Championships?
Blessing Akawasi Afrifah and 100m champion Letsile Tebogo went on the line together. Both were credited with the championship record of 19.96, but the photofinisher judges gave the former the gold medal.
Meanwhile, Brianna Lyston and Alana Reid progressed to the women’s 200m final.
Lyston, who recorded the day’s fastest time of 22.83, said she was “feeling good” after the heats and semi-final on Thursday.
Reid finished second in her heat, running a personal best of 23.16.
Roshawn Clarke was also in top form, running a personal best of 49.35 to lead the way into the men’s 400m hurdles final.
Earlier, both Jamaica 4x100m teams advanced to their respective finals.
David Lynch, Mark-Anthony Daley, Adrian Kerr and Bouwahjgie Nkrumie took the men’s team to the final in 39.24.
Tia Clayton, Alexis James, Tina Clayton and Serena Cole booked their spot in 43.28.
