News17 Aug 2006


Spencer in the footsteps of Hemmings

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Kaliese Spencer of Jamaica competes in the women's 400m Hurdles (© Getty Images)

19yearold Kaliese Spencer became the first Jamaican to win the women’s 400m Hurdles World Junior title here in Beijing when she set a new World Junior leading time of 55.11 in tonight’s final.

Fourth in Grosseto’s final two years ago, Nicole Leach of the USA, also a two-time American Junior champion, who held the world’s junior fastest time prior to this race, came in second at 55.55 despite a desperate effort to catch up with Spencer in the final stages of the race.

Sudan’s Muna Jabir Adam, who had run to a new national record of 56.55 in the semi-final, remained in bronze medal contention up until the last three metres when her legs literally gave way and she could not respond to the surge of Sherene Pinnock.

Pinnock clocked a PB 56.67 while Jabir Adam fell to the floor, exhausted after her 57.03 run.

Running in lane 3, Spencer was very fast out of the blocks and gradually gained ground over Leach who was running on the outside. Spencer’s first move came between hurdles 3 and 4, the Jamaican increasing her lead up to five metres coming into the home stretch.

It briefly looked like Leach had the strength to move into the lead especially when Spencer messed up with her steps coming into the ninth hurdle but the Jamaican did not panic and finished strong. She had a good three metres to spare over the 19-year-old American.

Spencer’s win was acknowledge by 1996 Olympic champion Deon Hemmings who was watching from the stands with the Jamaican delegation.

Commenting on Spencer’s win, Hemmings said she thinks Kaliese is capable of achieving a lot in track. “I believe she has the potential of become a World and Olympic champion as well as a World record breaker.”

Interestingly, Hemmings analysed Spencer and Pinnock’s running styles: “Kaliese reminds me of myself while Sherene reminds me a lot of Debbie Ann Parris!”

It was Pinnock’s second bronze medal after she finished third in Grosseto two years ago.

Jabir Adam moved up to the Hurdles after competing in the one-lap flat race at the 2003 World Youth champs in Sherbrooke and World Juniors in Grosseto.

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