Report14 Jul 2013


Jamaica set World youth best in boys’ Medley Relay

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Jamaica celebrate their World youth best in the boys' medley relay at the 2013 World Youth Championships (© Getty Images)

 

Jamaica toppled favourites USA for victory in the boys’ Medley Relay, storming to a 1:49.23 World youth best in the process.

Improving the USA’s 1:49.47 winning time from 2011, the Jamaican quartet were led off by Waseem Williams – who finished seventh in the 100m final on Thursday (11) – on the 100m leg before Michael O’Hara took over on the 200m stage of the race.

O’Hara, the 200m gold medallist from earlier in the evening, established a slight lead from the USA outfit as Okeen Williams, the athlete who fell in the boys’ 400m Hurdles final, took over for the 300m leg.

It was then down to Friday’s 400m gold medallist Martin Manley to take charge with an unassailable lead over his one-lap run for home, finishing almost a second clear of the runners-up.

Surprisingly, Jamaica have only ever won bronze in this event, at the Ostrava edition in 2007, while the USA team’s fine tradition was upset following their six victories in the eight editions of this championship.

The USA’s 400m silver medallist Ryan Clark could not match Manley’s closing speed, as the US sprinter joined forces with Jaalen Jones, Noah Lyles and Taylor McClaughlin to claim the silver medal in 1:50.14.

In bronze, Japan clocked a 1:50.52 national youth record best as Daiki Oda, Shunto Nagata, Kakeru Yamaki and Kaisei Yui took their nation’s fifth medal in the history of this event.

Jamaica now hold the World youth bests in both relays, their girls’ team having broken the other record two years ago in Lille.

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