EUGENE–Jamaican Jaheel Hyde stormed to the fastest junior time in the world this year as he carved out a dominant performance to claim gold in the 400 metres hurdles at the IAAF World Junior Championships here Friday night.The 17-year-old took command of the contest over the first 200 metres, shrugging off challenges from his main rivals throughout the preliminary rounds late in the contest, to reach the tape in 49.29 seconds. With the victory, Hyde added to his triumph in the sprint hurdles at the World Youth Games in Donetsk last year, and said afterward he had achieved his objective.
"My aim was to win the World Juniors. I started training back in January with this goal in kind. I executed my race well today and I'm very happy with the victory," Hyde said."First 200m is my strength in the race. I know that if I get that part right, no one can catch me. It was my plan; to show my strength to my rivals and to break their confidence."Ali Khamis Khamis of Bahrain and American Tim Holmes, along with Hyde the winners of the three semi-finals, finished second and third, respectively. Khamis was timed at 49.55, a new national record, while Holmes clocked 50.07. Holmes was strong early on as he tracked Hyde but faltered and allowed Khamis to come through to take silver.There was more success for Jamaica in the men's 200 metres when Michael O'Hara finished third, behind winner Trentavis Friday of the United States who clocked 20.04 seconds. O'Hara, who crossed the line in 20.31 seconds, looked good for silver before being run down in the late stages by Nigerian Ejowvokoghene Divine Oduduru (20.25)."I came out here to do my best and that's what I did. I'm happy with my time. My start was my best so I'm very happy with the result," said O'Hara.
Zharnel Hughes of Anguilla finished a disappointing fifth in 20.73 seconds, while Trinidadian Jonathan Farinha was last in 21.09 seconds. There was no luck for the Caribbean in the corresponding women's event as Jamaican Natalliah Whyte was seventh in 23.48 behind champion, American Kaylin Whitney who won in 22.82 seconds.Meanwhile, T&T and Jamaica women's sprint relay teams qualified for last night's final by winning their semi-final heats, along with the United States. The T&T quartet of Aaliyah Telesford, Zakiya Denoon, Mauricia Prieto, Kayelle Clarke stopped the clock in 44.68 seconds ahead of Japan 45.38, Australia 45.54, Cyprus 47.26, followed by Poland, Great Britain & NI all three did not finish.The Jamaicans won the second semi-final in 44.22 seconds ahead of Switzerland, while T&T clocked 44.68 to qualify along with Japan. Jamaica and T&T also booked their spots in the men's final when they finished first and second, respectively, in the third semi-final. Also, Shaquille Waithe although only getting one legal throw of 68.19 metres has qualified in 8th position for the finals of the javelin event today. (CMC)