Another Gold, Bronze for Jamaica

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Bryan (photo by Kelvin Campbell)

Jamaica’s Marvin Williams won his country’s third hurdles gold medal of the championships today and the fourth gold overall in what was quite a dramatic final on the penultimate day of competition. He was toe-to-toe with his training partner and best friend Okeen Williams (not related) for the first 300 meters, but Okeen hit the penultimate hurdle and crashed out.

Marvin continued to streak away to win in a world youth-leading 50.39secs that bettered the Jamaica youth record set by Okeen in the semifinal. After crossing the line, Marvin went back to comfort Okeen.

In the Boys’ High Jump, their compatriot Christoff Bryan cleared 2.16m to secure bronze to increase Jamaica’s medal tally to six.

Barbados, Cuba in the Mix

Tia-Adana Belle gave Barbados its only medal so far – a silver in the girls one-lap hurdles with a personal best 58.42 behind Helene Swanepoel of South Africa, in a world youth-leading 58.08.

In the Triple Jump, Cuba’s Lazaro Martinez equaled the World Youth Championship record to give Cuba its only gold medal. The Spanish-speaking country is now in ninth place with one gold, one silver and a bronze.

It was a straight battle among the top rivals throughout the rounds as hometown boy Oleksandr Malosilov opened with a PB of 15.95m. However, his lead was soon overtaken by Germany’s Dimitri Antonov, who also set a PB with 16.02m.

In round three, China’s Fang Yaoqing moved into first place with 16.48m – his lifetime best. Martinez then snatched the lead with PB performances in round four, leaping 16.63m to move into first position.

The places remained the same in the final two rounds, and Martinez equaled the championship record set in 2005 by his countryman Hector Fuentes. Fang won his second silver medal of the week, having taken second place in the Long Jump.