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Blake, Lee in 100m final
BY PAUL A REID Observer Writer reidp@jamaicaobserver.com
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
BYDGOSZCZ, Poland - National Junior record-holder Yohan Blake and World Youth Champion Dexter Lee will start Jamaica's medal hunt at the 12th IAAF World Junior Championships on today's second day after qualifying for the final of the Men's 100m at the Stadium Zdzislawa here yesterday.
Both Jamaicans clocked identical 10.42 seconds in their semi-final heats on yesterday's opening day, Blake cruising to an easy win and Lee - who had a scare in the morning session - taking the second automatic qualifying spot in his second-round heat.
BYDGOSZCZ, Poland - National Junior record-holder Yohan Blake wins his semi-final heat in the Men's 100 metres in 10.42 seconds at the IAAF World Junior Championships at the Stadium Zdzislawa yesterday. (Photo: Paul Reid)
Earlier, in his first-round heat, Blake clocked 10.56secs, but Lee, who led comfortably, shut down early and was third in 10.65 after a slow start, but advanced as one of the fastest losers.
A confident Blake, who won bronze two years ago in Beijing, spoke of lowering his national record (10.11 seconds) today, saying that after being three months away from the track, he felt in good condition.
"I feel very good right now.my coaches are looking at a fast time...and I'm looking to run crazy in the final," he told the Observer.
A more sedate Lee admitted he made a mistake in the first round, but said he was just looking to run his best as his time "was good for a semi-final".
Lee's race was held up by two false starts - the second resulting in the disqualification of Antonio Sales of the USA.
The weather was fickle on the opening day as after starting under bright sunshine, it become cloudy, then started raining just after midday during the men's 100m heats. It eased somewhat, but during the afternoon session, it was noticeably cooler, forcing even the natives to pull out windbreakers.
The first two finals were contested yesterday. Germany's David Storl won the shot put with 21.08m to go with his World Youth title, while the Ethiopian pair of Sule Utura and Genzebe Dibaba - the youngest of the famous family of female runners - were first and second in the women's 5,000m. Utura won in 16 minutes, 15:59 seconds.
However, despite the success of the Jamaican male sprinters, it was a tough day for the Jamaicans, as only two other athletes advanced past the first round of their events.
Long jumper Tarick Batchelor advanced to today's final, while just one of the four quarter-milers, Latoya McDermott, made it past the first round into today's second round.
McDermott, a silver medallist at the World Youth Games last year, ran 54.62 seconds for fifth in her heat, just off her season's best 54.50 seconds at Trials three weeks ago. She advanced as one of the fastest losers.
Trials winner, 16-year-old Antonique Campbell, also finished fifth in her heat in 56.27 seconds.
The male duo also failed to get past the first round as Kevin Williams was fourth in his heat in 48.42 seconds, while Akino Ming was eighth and last in his heat in 49.02.
Both female 100m runners, Kaycea Jones and Shawna Anderson of Edwin Allen, managed to get to the semi-finals where they finished down the track and out of contention.
Neither had stamped her class on the event, advancing via the best losers' route. They later told the Observer they were disappointed with their performances, but were looking forward to the relays later this week.
It was also difficult going for the middle-distance athletes as 800m winner, Natoya Goule, faded in the last 300 metres to finish fifth in 2:09.55 in her heat after leading the first lap in 1:03.63 minutes.
She later told reporters she got boxed-in on the last turn for home and could not get into the clear to make a run for home.
Unlike what he did at the World Youths last year, Kemoy Campbell completed the 1,500m but well down the track in 10th place in 4:03.80 minutes after he led the field with two laps to go.
Batchelor advanced to the final on his final attempt, a wind aided 7.36m (2.w2m/s) after jumping 7.14m on his first attempt in pool A and fouling his second attempt.
BY PAUL A REID Observer Writer reidp@jamaicaobserver.com
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
BYDGOSZCZ, Poland - National Junior record-holder Yohan Blake and World Youth Champion Dexter Lee will start Jamaica's medal hunt at the 12th IAAF World Junior Championships on today's second day after qualifying for the final of the Men's 100m at the Stadium Zdzislawa here yesterday.
Both Jamaicans clocked identical 10.42 seconds in their semi-final heats on yesterday's opening day, Blake cruising to an easy win and Lee - who had a scare in the morning session - taking the second automatic qualifying spot in his second-round heat.
BYDGOSZCZ, Poland - National Junior record-holder Yohan Blake wins his semi-final heat in the Men's 100 metres in 10.42 seconds at the IAAF World Junior Championships at the Stadium Zdzislawa yesterday. (Photo: Paul Reid) Earlier, in his first-round heat, Blake clocked 10.56secs, but Lee, who led comfortably, shut down early and was third in 10.65 after a slow start, but advanced as one of the fastest losers.
A confident Blake, who won bronze two years ago in Beijing, spoke of lowering his national record (10.11 seconds) today, saying that after being three months away from the track, he felt in good condition.
"I feel very good right now.my coaches are looking at a fast time...and I'm looking to run crazy in the final," he told the Observer.
A more sedate Lee admitted he made a mistake in the first round, but said he was just looking to run his best as his time "was good for a semi-final".
Lee's race was held up by two false starts - the second resulting in the disqualification of Antonio Sales of the USA.
The weather was fickle on the opening day as after starting under bright sunshine, it become cloudy, then started raining just after midday during the men's 100m heats. It eased somewhat, but during the afternoon session, it was noticeably cooler, forcing even the natives to pull out windbreakers.
The first two finals were contested yesterday. Germany's David Storl won the shot put with 21.08m to go with his World Youth title, while the Ethiopian pair of Sule Utura and Genzebe Dibaba - the youngest of the famous family of female runners - were first and second in the women's 5,000m. Utura won in 16 minutes, 15:59 seconds.
However, despite the success of the Jamaican male sprinters, it was a tough day for the Jamaicans, as only two other athletes advanced past the first round of their events.
Long jumper Tarick Batchelor advanced to today's final, while just one of the four quarter-milers, Latoya McDermott, made it past the first round into today's second round.
McDermott, a silver medallist at the World Youth Games last year, ran 54.62 seconds for fifth in her heat, just off her season's best 54.50 seconds at Trials three weeks ago. She advanced as one of the fastest losers.
Trials winner, 16-year-old Antonique Campbell, also finished fifth in her heat in 56.27 seconds.
The male duo also failed to get past the first round as Kevin Williams was fourth in his heat in 48.42 seconds, while Akino Ming was eighth and last in his heat in 49.02.
Both female 100m runners, Kaycea Jones and Shawna Anderson of Edwin Allen, managed to get to the semi-finals where they finished down the track and out of contention.
Neither had stamped her class on the event, advancing via the best losers' route. They later told the Observer they were disappointed with their performances, but were looking forward to the relays later this week.
It was also difficult going for the middle-distance athletes as 800m winner, Natoya Goule, faded in the last 300 metres to finish fifth in 2:09.55 in her heat after leading the first lap in 1:03.63 minutes.
She later told reporters she got boxed-in on the last turn for home and could not get into the clear to make a run for home.
Unlike what he did at the World Youths last year, Kemoy Campbell completed the 1,500m but well down the track in 10th place in 4:03.80 minutes after he led the field with two laps to go.
Batchelor advanced to the final on his final attempt, a wind aided 7.36m (2.w2m/s) after jumping 7.14m on his first attempt in pool A and fouling his second attempt.
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