Jamaica opened it’s medal account at the 19th World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary on day three of the event, winning two Silver and a Bronze in the last two track events on the day.
It was also a day where two of the country’s brightest youngest stars endured the highs and lows of top level competition at their first ever senior global championships.
After two days without a podium finish, Jamaica finally got on the board with the three medals coming within 30 minutes of each other.
The reigning Olympic champion Hansle Parchment bagged the first piece of Silverware and it came in his pet event the 110m high hurdles where he clocked a season’s beat 13-points- 07 seconds for second behind the American Grant Halloway who secured a third straight world title in 12-point-96 seconds.
Many predicted two medals in the women’s 100m, including the Gold.
However that was not to be as America’s Sha’carri Richadson ran the race of her life from lane nine to beat a strong field to win in a new Championship record 10-point-65 seconds.
Favourite Shericka Jackson has to settle for second in in 10-point-72 seconds with five time world champion Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce third in 10-point-77 seconds.
Teenage star Jaydon Hibbert’s hopes of creating history and becoming Jamaica’s first medallist in the men’s triple jump were dashed after picking up an injury.
The 18 year old Hibbert aborted his first jump as he was seen grabbing his leg.
He then received medical attention on the side but was forced to pass on his second and third attempts, exiting the competition prematurely.
His coach Travis Geopfert told Nationwide today that Hibbert had a problem with his Hamstring and they will know in the next few days the extent of the injury.
In perhaps the performance of the meet so far for Jamaica, another teenage prodigy 19 year old Rashawn Clarke shattered the national record and took with him the world junior record as well, to advance the final of the men’s 400m hurdles.
Clarke logged an incredible 47-point-34 seconds for second in his semi-final, beating the previous national record on 47-point-60 seconds set 30 years ago by Winthrope Graham.
The time also beat the world junior record he held jointly…..Jaheel Hyde the other Jamaican in the semi-finals, failed to advance further after posting 48.49 seconds for fourth.
Other Jamaicans in the finals today Fedrick Dacres and Travis Smikle both failed to medal in the men’s Discus…Dacres was fifth with 66.72m while Smikle threw 61.90m
Only one of the three Jamaicans in the women’s 400m advanced to the final….Candice McLeod was fourth in her semi-final in 50.62 seconds and advanced on time.
Cherokee Young sixth 51.40 and national champion Nickiesha Pryce 51.24 failed to make it.
Tomorrow’s fourth day will see ten Jamaican’s in action and Nationwide’s coverage starts at 11am.
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