It was a day of mixed fortunes for Caribbean athletes on the first day of the IAAF World Under 20 Championships in Bydgosczcz, Poland, Tuesday.
Barbados’ Mario Burke and Jaquone Hoyte ran 10.33 and 10.58 respectively in their heats to advance to tomorrow’s semifinal of the 100 meters. Two others have also made it from the Caribbean –– Jamaicans Raheem Chambers (10.45) and Jevaughn Matherson (10.47) will face the starter on Wednesday.
But the big shock of the day came from Jamaican national junior discus record holder Shanice Love who failed to register a mark and was eliminated from the competition.
Love, who set a new national junior record of 54.72 in April has now been relegated to rooting for her teammate Devia Brown who advanced to the final with a personal best throw of 49.56m.
Serena Brown of the Bahamas was also through with a mark of 50.94m.
Meanwhile, Jamaica’s Tiffany James was fastest through to the semi-final round of the 400 metres. James won her heat in 52.98s. Her compatriot Junelle Bromfield whose personal best of 51.74s puts her among the favourites for the Under-20 title, was comfortably through in 53.21s.
Shaquannia Dorsett of the Bahamas also made it through with a 54.55 second run.
