DOUGLAS DELIVERS GOLD - Women earn fourth straight 4x100m title at World U20 Championships

A brilliant anchor leg from Shanoya Douglas powered Jamaica to their fourth consecutive women’s 4x100 metres title at the World Under-20 Championships, clocking a world-leading 42.89 seconds on yesterday’s final day in Eugene, Oregon.

With favourites the United States failing to reach the final, Jamaica seized the opportunity. Sashana Johnson, a 200m finalist, gave the team a strong start, followed by Theianna-Lee Terrelonge and Natrece East.

Heading into the anchor leg, Jamaica trailed Switzerland, but Douglas – silver medallist in both the 100m and 200m – produced her best run of the meet to secure gold. Switzerland finished second in 43.36, while Belgium claimed bronze in a national junior record 43.91.

Jamaica’s men were unable to defend their 4x100m crown, settling for bronze in a season’s best 39.01. The quartet of Kyla Budden, Gary Card (who ran a superb backstretch leg), Nyron Wade, and Sanjay Seymour finished behind the United States, who stormed to a World Under-20 record 38.16, and Great Britain, who took silver in an area record 38.90.

Earlier, Jamaica secured their first medal of the day when Joseph Salmon won bronze in the men’s discus with 63.37m. World leader Simon Rosselli of the United States claimed gold with a national U20 record 66.39m, while Estonia’s Sten-Erik Lor took silver with a personal-best 65.42m. Jamaica’s Kimari Kennedy, who briefly held second place, finished fourth with a personal-best 64.18m.

The Jamaicans contested four other finals but failed to add to their tally. In the women’s 400m hurdles, Shevaughn Thomas did not finish, while Jahanie Tyrell placed eighth in the men’s event in 53.23. The women’s 4x400m team of Daniella Dixon, Kristen Herbert, Davine Dickenson, and Kevongaye Fowler finished sixth in 3:34.28, as the United States won in a world-leading 3:29.15.

In the men’s 4x400m, Nishon Walker, Jabari Matheson, Jason Pitter, and Jabulani McLeod finished fifth in a season’s best 3:05.71. The United States took gold in 3:03.90, South Africa, silver in 3:02.76, and France, bronze in a national record 3:04.80.

Jamaica ended the championships with eight medals – two gold, three silver, and three bronze – for fourth overall. The United States topped the table with 24 medals (12 gold, seven silver, five bronze), followed by Kenya with 11 (four gold, three silver, four bronze) and Italy with five (three gold, two bronze).