National Scholastic Athletics Foundation

2016 IAAF U20 Championships – Day 3 evening session summary

WOMEN’S 100m semi-finals

Candace Hill (USA – Asics), Khalifa St. Fort (Trinidad and Tobago – Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, FL) and Ewa Swoboda (Poland) were the leading qualifiers at 11.12 (=MR), 11.22 and 11.17, respectively.  Hill and St. Fort went 1-2 in last year’s IAAF World Youth Champs, and Swoboda won the 2015 European Junior Champs.

WOMEN’S 100m FINAL

We knew it would be close and we thought Hill would come out ahead as she did, setting the meet record with 11.07.  Ewa Swoboda was second in 11.12 and Khalifa St. Fort third in 11.18.  The three had the best starts of the field: St. Fort (.134), Swoboda (.137) and Hill (.136).  It was the first-ever medal for Poland in the 100m and the fifth overall in any running event for that country.

MEN’S 200m semi-finals

It was the easiest 20.71 one has ever seen, with Michael Norman (Vista Murrieta, Murrieta Valley, CA) shutting it down halfway through the race.  The meet record of 20.28 is certainly in jeopardy in tomorrow’s final.  Micaiah Harris (Western Branch, Chesapeake, VA) ran well (20.97), but could only manage 5th in his semi and did not advance.

HEPTATHLON DAY 1

Shot Put:  Though not their best event, both Kaylee Hinton (Texas Tech) and Emma Fitzgerald (Thayer Academy, Braintree, MA) did decently.  Hinton threw 10.37 (34-00.25), just off her 34-02 lifetime best.  Fitzgerald got a PB, throwing 34-04.25.  The leader was Bianca Salming of Sweden with 43-07.25 as six athletes threw 40 feet or better.

The leaders after 3 events:

1. Arianna Rodriguez  Cuba  2705
12. Kaylee Hinton   USA  2418
19. Emma Fitzgerald  USA  2355

200m: Fitzgerald ran 25.68, just off her 25.59 life time best.  Kaylee Hinton got a PB at 24.95.  Arianna Rodriguez (Cuba) had the fastest time of the group (23.95)

The leaders after 4 events:

1. Arianna Rodriguez  Cuba  3691
11. Kaylee Hinton   USA  3309
19. Emma Fitzgerald  USA  3180

WOMEN’S 400m HURDLES semi-finals

Anna Cockrell (Providence Day, Charlotte, NC), headed for USC in the fall, had no issues in qualifying.  She was challenged for seven hurdles by Shannon Kalawan (Jamaica), but pulled away to win easily in 56.10, her fastest winning time ever (she ran 55.89 behind Sydney Mc Laughlin at the US Junior Champs).

WOMEN’S DISCUS FINAL

Both Americans, Kiana Phelps (Kingsley-Pierson, Kingsley, IA) and Elena Bruckner (Valley Christian, San Jose, CA) with Phelps making the six-woman cut and Bruckner just outside in 7th.  Both have thrown better, but both were competitive.  Phelps finished at 172-07 and Bruckner at 170-09.  The winner was Kristina Rakocevic (Montenegro) at 184-11.  It was the second medal ever for Montenegro at the world juniors.

WOMEN’S POLE VAULT FINAL

New Balance Nationals champ Carson Dingler (First Presbyterian Day, Macon, GA) had a very good meet, finishing 5th with a personal best of 13-11.25 (=#10 all-time).  She made that on her first attempt after making 13-09.25 on her third attempt.  Rachel Baxter (Canyon, Anaheim, CA) managed only 13-05.25, finishing 10th.  Angelica Moser (Switzerland) was the winner at 14-11.

WOMEN’S 400m FINAL

As we mentioned yesterday, never bet against Lynna Irby (Pike, Indianapolis, IN).  She led for 350m until Tiffany James (Jamaica) came up on her and passed her.  James started to pull away, but Irby covered the move and almost caught James, finishing second in 51.39 to James’ 51.32.  Five girls ran 52.09 or faster.  Irby’s time is #7 all-time.

MEN’S 400m semi-finals

Both Americans, Kahmari Montgomery (Missouri) and Will London (Baylor), advanced with London at 45.49 and Montgomery at 45.71.  There were six athletes at 45.81 or better.  The number 1 seed, Babploke Thebe of Botswana, ran 44.67 but was disqualified.

MEN’S TRIPLE JUMP FINAL

Americans Armani Wallace (Florida State) and Charles Brown (Texas Tech) did not jump well, finishing 12th (49-06.5) and 10th (51-02.25).  The Cubans were dominant, taking gold and silver with defending champion Lazaro Martinez winning (55-11.75 with a -1.1 wind) and Cristian Naples taking second in 54-06.5 [-0.6].  It was the third time that Cubans went 1-2 in the World Junior triple jump competition.

WOMEN’S 800m FINAL

The U.S. equaled their total medal count from all past World U20 Championships in finishing an incredible first and second.  Only Ajee Wilson had ever won the event for the U.S. before, winning in 2012.  Rebecca Noble won the bronze in 2006.  It was Samantha Watson (Rush-Henrietta, Henrietta, NY) the victor in 2:04.52 and Aaliyah Miller (Boyd, Mc Kinney, TX) second in 2:05.06.  Watson was also the 2015 World Youth champ.  Obviously, it was tactical race.  Watson was boxed in on the final backstretch, then began her charge.  She cleared the field with 100m and was never bested.  Miller was sixth coming off the final turn and passed everyone coming down the stretch to finish second.

MEN’S 110m HURDLE FINAL

U of North Carolina-bound Marcus Krah (Hillside, Durham, NC) got a great start and ran a flawless race, winning in 13.25, equal to his US Junior winning time and #2 all-time high school!   (But not a state record – that is also the national record and it belongs to Wayne Davis of Raleigh Southeast HS).  Amere Lattin (Houston) was second in a PB of 13.30.  It was the first-ever 1-2 finish for the U.S.  The best-ever medal placings in the past was the gold for Aries Merritt and the bronze for Kevin Craddock in 2004.