Defending champion Tina Clayton safely through to 100m semis at World U-20 Championships
Clayton, who ran 11.09 to win the World Junior title in Nairobi last year, cruised to 11.38 to win the first heat. The Edwin Allen High standout sped to a personal best and national junior record 10.96 to win the Jamaican junior title in June.
Lirangi Tejada of the Dominican Republic finished fourth in heat one in 11.66 to advance as a fastest loser.
Joining her in the semis will be high school teammate Serena Cole, who was equally impressive in heat two, running 11.38 for victory.
Barbados’ Kishawna Miles ran 11.58 for third in heat three to advance.
In the 400m, Jamaica’s Dejanea Oakley won heat four in 53.70 to advance. Her teammate Rickiann Russell ran 54.63 to finish fifth in heat five and advance as a non-automatic qualifier.
Javonya Valcourt of the Bahamas also advanced as a non-automatic qualifier after finishing fifth in heat three in 55.31.
On the Men’s side, Jamaica’s Delano Kennedy and Shaemar Uter both safely got through to the semi-finals. Kennedy ran a personal best 46.24 for third in heat two while Uter finished second in heat three in 46.66.
Moving to the 400m hurdles, Michelle Smith of the US Virgin Islands was the second fastest qualifier to the semi-finals after running 58.33 to win the third heat. Jamaica’s Oneika McAnuff will also be in the semi-finals after a third-place finish in heat five in 59.45.
In the field, Jamaica’s Brandon Pottinger cleared 2.08m to advance to the final of the Men’s high jump.