Ana Peleteiro of Spain in the women's triple jump at the 2012 IAAF World Junior Championships in Barcelona (© Getty Images)
BarcelonaAna Peleteiro in a dramatic Triple Jump final on the third day of the IAAF World Junior Championships in Barcelona thrilled home Spanish fans when winning the host nation's first gold medal in a nail-biting confrontation with Dovile Dzindzaletaite.
Click here for event by event reports of all finals
The contest seemed to be cut and dry after Peleteiro set 2012 World leading performances with her second attempt of 13.96m and in the following round another huge PB of 14.17m after having first improved it in the first with a clearance of 13.64m.
But Dzindzaletaite had other ideas and the World's second ranked woman this year shocked Peleteiro and the frantic home supporters when herself matching the Spaniard's lead in round five. However her last hop, step and jump to the relief of home supporters was a foul.
That saw Peleteiro take the treasured gold medal on count-back amid joyous scenes with pre-Championships World leader Liuba M. Zaldivar finishing third with a best effort of 13.90m.
"I could not hide my tears," said Peleteiro ranked fifth in the Word prior to the final. "I have improved my personal best by almost half a metre and cannot believe it yet."
The emotive teenager whose performance could not have been predicted, added: "The support of the public was decisive in me jumping 14.17m."
Steeplechase gold stays in Kenya
There was another World lead as Daisy Jepkemei maintained Kenya's fantastic 3000m Steeplechase record when continuing the gold medal sweep which began when the event was included in the programme eight years ago in Grosseto.
Jepkemei after a very slow opening start to the race, took it by the scruff of the neck and after moving through the first kilometre in 3:17.11, only Tejinesh Gebisa ranked second in the World standings behind her, stayed the pace.
The order remained that way through 2km passed in 6:32.81 until Jepkemei well on course to improve her global leader, piled on the pressure and opened a 10m gap at the bell ahead of her Ethiopian rival and then began running even quicker.
That saw the 16-year-old dash around the final circuit to win in a new World leading and personal best time of 9:47.22, while Gebisa who fell away badly, just managed to scramble second position from the winner's fast finishing team-mate Stella Rutto.
Both African contestants who fought for domination down the home stretch were rewarded with lifetime bests of 9:50.51 and 9:50.58. Immediately behind them Evdokiya Bukina and Brianna Nerud set Russian and USA records of 9:56.46 and 10:00.72.
Pre-event favourite Driouch strikes gold
In contrast the eagerly awaited men's 1500m clash between Hamsa Driouch and Teshome Dirirsa never took off when the latter could manage only a disappointing ninth place in a race expected to be one of the highlights of the Championships.
Driouch in what was initially a tactical contest, won in a very slow time of 3:39.04 from Kenya's Hillary Ngetich who clocked a PB 3:40.39 and Abdelhadi Labali from Morocco who recorded 3:40.60.
Although in front after 800, Driouch really took charge of the race with two laps remaining when he powered away from the pack and gradually opened up an uncatchable lead to claim Qatar's fifth Championships and first ever 1500 metres gold medal.
Wilson adds Junior gold to youth title
However the women's 800m lived up to expectations and although the two minutes barrier may have been a bridge too far it was a great race between Ajee Wilson and Jessica Judd.
Wilson with her renowned finishing speed duly won the USA's first Championships title over the distance clocking 2:00.91 while Judd just 0.05 behind and battling as hard as she could, also posted the fastest time of her fledgling career.
The Briton knowing Wilson is a fast finisher started to make a run for home with 250m remaining but the winner covered every acceleration of pace, before attacking in the home straight.
It all looked to be over but Judd kept fighting back in the two horse encounter where Manal El Bahraoui was third in a distant 2:03.09.
O’Farrill dominates high hurdles
Yordan L. O'Farrill who told all his rivals after the 110 hurdles preliminary rounds he was the man to beat, turned that statement into reality in the final when producing the World's third fastest ever time of 13.18.
"After this personal best I'm certainly sure I can break the World junior record," said O'Farrill who trains with Cuban legend Dayron Robles. "The race was nearly perfect. Today was my last competition of the season."
O'Farrill also erased the six-year-old Championship record of 13.23 which Poland's Artur Noga achieved in Beijing, ahead of Nicholas Hough and Wilhem Belocian.
But the Australian and Frenchman also excelled beyond their expectations when setting National records of 13.27 and 13.29 - Hough's also being the fastest ever by an Oceania athlete.
Santos as expected
Luquelin Santos showing a clean pair of heels to the entire field narrowly missed the Championships record of 44.66 when flying to a time of 44.85 in what was a simple victory for him.
The Dominican Republic World Number 1 showed no mercy to his rivals in the final 150m as he powered away to claim victory ahead of the USA pair of Arman Hall and Aldrich Bailey, the latter sharing bronze with Australia's Steven Solomon at 45.52.
Brazil strikes gold in men’s Pole Vault
Thiago Da Silva with a Brazilian record of 5.55m won the Pole Vault on count-back ahead of Croatian Ivan Horvat and Shawnacy Barber who also posted a Canadian record of 5.55m.
Da Silva in a competition eagerly watched by home fans with their favourite Didic Salas bidding for a host nation medal, produced only two failures and passing when the bar was raised to 5.60m outwitted his two rivals who failed to make that height.
Dacres wisn Discus again
Fedric Dacres raising his PB by over a metre to 62.80m in the second round was under no pressure throughout the discus final although Wojciech Praczyk was only five centimetres shy of his mark with his final attempt.
Poland's Praczyk the World leader was the pre-Championships favourite for the gold medal but with three no-throws just could not get his coordination together when it mattered most.
Dacres from Jamaica took full advantage of his rival's frustration and although not reaching out over 62m again, was never really challenged by anyone in the field.
South Africa's Gerhard de Beer who had been lying third with a best effort of 61.57m was denied the silver medal by Praczyk's last gasp effort.
Qualifying races…
Anthonique Strachan the 100m gold medallist set herself up to become the first woman to complete a sprint double in succession to Veronica Campbell 12 years ago and Tezdzhan Naiova in 2006 when easily winning her 200m semi-final in 23.28.
It won't be an easy task for the Bahamian particularly with the USA's Dezerea Bryant looking to atone for missing out on a place in the 100m final.
Bryant powered to the fastest semi of 23.11 ahead of last year's World Youth champion Desiree Henry of Great Britain who posted a season's best of 23.28.
Julian Forte produced a powerful bend before easing down to stake his claim for the men's gold medal when running 20.83 into a -2.8m/s headwind.
The Jamaican's pacey display left his rivals floundering with the USA's Aaron Ernest given second and an automatic final place ahead of Bahamian Teray Smith, both clocking 21.06.
Karol Zalewski coped well into an even stronger wind of -4.5m/s, indeed the Pole ran a cracking bend to amazingly lower his PB by 0.02 to 20.93.
Delano Williams just 0.01 behind, became the first Turks & Caico Islander ever to make a World Junior Championships final.
Ashley Spencer is only one race away from realising her ambition in the women’s 400 as she had no problems in winning her semi-final in an unchallenged 52.24 with Jamaica's Olivia James claiming a place in the final behind her with a season's best 52.71.
Bahamas’ World Number 2 Shaunae Miller after a very quick start and opening a healthy lead of 10m, tied up down the home straight but held on to win in 52.75 narrowly in front of Romania's Bianca Razor who clocked 52.87 with Russia's Ekaterina Renzhina just 0.10 behind.
World leader Alexandra Tavernier stepped into the throwing circle only once and her soaring effort of 66.20m was good enough for the Frenchwoman to lead the hammer qualifying group.
In the earlier qualifier her team-mate Alexia Sedykh whose father the legendary Yuriy then competing for the Soviet Union set his still remaining men's World record of 86.74m at the 1986 European Championships, also progressed into the final, throwing 65.54m.
The first day's action in the women’s Heptathlon concluded with Tamara De Souza running 200m in 24.06 for an overall 3638pts, Yorgelis Rodriguez getting back on the leaderboard with a time of 24.41 and score of 3553pts and Nafissatou Thiam lying third after clocking 25.31 and reaching 3529pts.
David Martin for the IAAF
Click here for event by event reports of all finals
The contest seemed to be cut and dry after Peleteiro set 2012 World leading performances with her second attempt of 13.96m and in the following round another huge PB of 14.17m after having first improved it in the first with a clearance of 13.64m.
But Dzindzaletaite had other ideas and the World's second ranked woman this year shocked Peleteiro and the frantic home supporters when herself matching the Spaniard's lead in round five. However her last hop, step and jump to the relief of home supporters was a foul.
That saw Peleteiro take the treasured gold medal on count-back amid joyous scenes with pre-Championships World leader Liuba M. Zaldivar finishing third with a best effort of 13.90m.
"I could not hide my tears," said Peleteiro ranked fifth in the Word prior to the final. "I have improved my personal best by almost half a metre and cannot believe it yet."
The emotive teenager whose performance could not have been predicted, added: "The support of the public was decisive in me jumping 14.17m."
Steeplechase gold stays in Kenya
There was another World lead as Daisy Jepkemei maintained Kenya's fantastic 3000m Steeplechase record when continuing the gold medal sweep which began when the event was included in the programme eight years ago in Grosseto.
Jepkemei after a very slow opening start to the race, took it by the scruff of the neck and after moving through the first kilometre in 3:17.11, only Tejinesh Gebisa ranked second in the World standings behind her, stayed the pace.
The order remained that way through 2km passed in 6:32.81 until Jepkemei well on course to improve her global leader, piled on the pressure and opened a 10m gap at the bell ahead of her Ethiopian rival and then began running even quicker.
That saw the 16-year-old dash around the final circuit to win in a new World leading and personal best time of 9:47.22, while Gebisa who fell away badly, just managed to scramble second position from the winner's fast finishing team-mate Stella Rutto.
Both African contestants who fought for domination down the home stretch were rewarded with lifetime bests of 9:50.51 and 9:50.58. Immediately behind them Evdokiya Bukina and Brianna Nerud set Russian and USA records of 9:56.46 and 10:00.72.
Pre-event favourite Driouch strikes gold
In contrast the eagerly awaited men's 1500m clash between Hamsa Driouch and Teshome Dirirsa never took off when the latter could manage only a disappointing ninth place in a race expected to be one of the highlights of the Championships.
Driouch in what was initially a tactical contest, won in a very slow time of 3:39.04 from Kenya's Hillary Ngetich who clocked a PB 3:40.39 and Abdelhadi Labali from Morocco who recorded 3:40.60.
Although in front after 800, Driouch really took charge of the race with two laps remaining when he powered away from the pack and gradually opened up an uncatchable lead to claim Qatar's fifth Championships and first ever 1500 metres gold medal.
Wilson adds Junior gold to youth title
However the women's 800m lived up to expectations and although the two minutes barrier may have been a bridge too far it was a great race between Ajee Wilson and Jessica Judd.
Wilson with her renowned finishing speed duly won the USA's first Championships title over the distance clocking 2:00.91 while Judd just 0.05 behind and battling as hard as she could, also posted the fastest time of her fledgling career.
The Briton knowing Wilson is a fast finisher started to make a run for home with 250m remaining but the winner covered every acceleration of pace, before attacking in the home straight.
It all looked to be over but Judd kept fighting back in the two horse encounter where Manal El Bahraoui was third in a distant 2:03.09.
O’Farrill dominates high hurdles
Yordan L. O'Farrill who told all his rivals after the 110 hurdles preliminary rounds he was the man to beat, turned that statement into reality in the final when producing the World's third fastest ever time of 13.18.
"After this personal best I'm certainly sure I can break the World junior record," said O'Farrill who trains with Cuban legend Dayron Robles. "The race was nearly perfect. Today was my last competition of the season."
O'Farrill also erased the six-year-old Championship record of 13.23 which Poland's Artur Noga achieved in Beijing, ahead of Nicholas Hough and Wilhem Belocian.
But the Australian and Frenchman also excelled beyond their expectations when setting National records of 13.27 and 13.29 - Hough's also being the fastest ever by an Oceania athlete.
Santos as expected
Luquelin Santos showing a clean pair of heels to the entire field narrowly missed the Championships record of 44.66 when flying to a time of 44.85 in what was a simple victory for him.
The Dominican Republic World Number 1 showed no mercy to his rivals in the final 150m as he powered away to claim victory ahead of the USA pair of Arman Hall and Aldrich Bailey, the latter sharing bronze with Australia's Steven Solomon at 45.52.
Brazil strikes gold in men’s Pole Vault
Thiago Da Silva with a Brazilian record of 5.55m won the Pole Vault on count-back ahead of Croatian Ivan Horvat and Shawnacy Barber who also posted a Canadian record of 5.55m.
Da Silva in a competition eagerly watched by home fans with their favourite Didic Salas bidding for a host nation medal, produced only two failures and passing when the bar was raised to 5.60m outwitted his two rivals who failed to make that height.
Dacres wisn Discus again
Fedric Dacres raising his PB by over a metre to 62.80m in the second round was under no pressure throughout the discus final although Wojciech Praczyk was only five centimetres shy of his mark with his final attempt.
Poland's Praczyk the World leader was the pre-Championships favourite for the gold medal but with three no-throws just could not get his coordination together when it mattered most.
Dacres from Jamaica took full advantage of his rival's frustration and although not reaching out over 62m again, was never really challenged by anyone in the field.
South Africa's Gerhard de Beer who had been lying third with a best effort of 61.57m was denied the silver medal by Praczyk's last gasp effort.
Qualifying races…
Anthonique Strachan the 100m gold medallist set herself up to become the first woman to complete a sprint double in succession to Veronica Campbell 12 years ago and Tezdzhan Naiova in 2006 when easily winning her 200m semi-final in 23.28.
It won't be an easy task for the Bahamian particularly with the USA's Dezerea Bryant looking to atone for missing out on a place in the 100m final.
Bryant powered to the fastest semi of 23.11 ahead of last year's World Youth champion Desiree Henry of Great Britain who posted a season's best of 23.28.
Julian Forte produced a powerful bend before easing down to stake his claim for the men's gold medal when running 20.83 into a -2.8m/s headwind.
The Jamaican's pacey display left his rivals floundering with the USA's Aaron Ernest given second and an automatic final place ahead of Bahamian Teray Smith, both clocking 21.06.
Karol Zalewski coped well into an even stronger wind of -4.5m/s, indeed the Pole ran a cracking bend to amazingly lower his PB by 0.02 to 20.93.
Delano Williams just 0.01 behind, became the first Turks & Caico Islander ever to make a World Junior Championships final.
Ashley Spencer is only one race away from realising her ambition in the women’s 400 as she had no problems in winning her semi-final in an unchallenged 52.24 with Jamaica's Olivia James claiming a place in the final behind her with a season's best 52.71.
Bahamas’ World Number 2 Shaunae Miller after a very quick start and opening a healthy lead of 10m, tied up down the home straight but held on to win in 52.75 narrowly in front of Romania's Bianca Razor who clocked 52.87 with Russia's Ekaterina Renzhina just 0.10 behind.
World leader Alexandra Tavernier stepped into the throwing circle only once and her soaring effort of 66.20m was good enough for the Frenchwoman to lead the hammer qualifying group.
In the earlier qualifier her team-mate Alexia Sedykh whose father the legendary Yuriy then competing for the Soviet Union set his still remaining men's World record of 86.74m at the 1986 European Championships, also progressed into the final, throwing 65.54m.
The first day's action in the women’s Heptathlon concluded with Tamara De Souza running 200m in 24.06 for an overall 3638pts, Yorgelis Rodriguez getting back on the leaderboard with a time of 24.41 and score of 3553pts and Nafissatou Thiam lying third after clocking 25.31 and reaching 3529pts.
David Martin for the IAAF
