Ready to strike – Jamaica Observer

OREGON, USA ­— Jamaica’s Marria Crossfield and Shevaughn Thomas both ran personal best times to qualify for Saturday’s semi-finals in the women’s 400m hurdles in Thursday’s first round at the World Athletics Under-20 Championships at Hayward Field, Eugene, Oregon.

Both women and Jahvanie Tyrell and Robert Miller in the men’s event all made progress while the mixed 4x100m relay team also advanced to today’s first ever final in the event that was added this year.

Meanwhile, today Gary Card and Shanoya Douglas will start their 200m qualification, while the first two rounds of the sprint hurdles for men and women will also be contested.

Joel Morgan and Kevongaye Fowler will contest the semi-finals of the men’s and women’s 800m, respectively.

Yesterday, Crossfield, who was fourth in her first-round heat in 58.22 seconds, was lowering her lifetime best for the 10th time this season, after starting the year with a 1:01.59 time at the Youngster Goldsmith meet at the National Stadium on the first weekend of February.

She lowered the 58.59 seconds time she ran at the Jamaica Athletics Administrative National Junior Championships in June to get into the semis.

Thomas was second in her semi-final heat in 58.36 seconds, lowering the 58.41 seconds she had run last year at the Carifta Games.

Tyrell was a surprise winner in his first-round heat, getting off to a fast start, and clocked 51.02 seconds, while Miller was second in his heat in 51.27 seconds.

The mixed 4x100m of Justin Stewart, Natrece East, Detarje Morgan and Renecia Edwards established a new national Under-20 of 42.08 seconds finishing third in their semi-final race.

Morgan told the Jamaica Observer they were pleased to be part of Jamaica’s track and field history, being the first to contest the event.

“It’s an extraordinary feeling. Jamaica have a great legacy, and we continue to fulfil that during our time running for Jamaica in Under-20s,” Morgan said. “We furthermore will be representing Jamaica sooner or later in the senior level so this is a good start for us.”

For the final he admitted they would have some work to do to get on the podium as they were sixth-best on the day. “We just have to fix it going into the finals and hope for a medal that we can take back home,” he said.

Also today, Sashana Johnson will accompany Shanoya Douglas in the first round of the women’s 200m, while Nathaniel Martin joins Card in the first round of the men’s race.

Tianna Marshall and Akeelah Bell are down to contest the 100m hurdles, while Marquies Page and Taj-Oneil Gordon will run in the 110m hurdles.