Friday’s World Junior Coverage

Jul 23, 2010 by Joy Kamani

Medal Ceremonies

Stormy Kendrick- Gold 200m

David Smith - Silver High Jump

Men's 200 Meters-Finals

This was one of the few times when the Americans did not have anyone in the final. The Japanese, Shota Iizuka, looked good in the prelims and ran well here to win in 20.67. Aliaksandr Linnik of Belarus was second in 21.00. The big story was Canadian Aaron Brown, running from lane 8. He made a late charge to nip Wayde Van Niekerk of South Africa at the line much to the delight of the local crowd. (Aaron Brown had won the Nike Indoor Nationals 200 meter earlier this year, running 21.54).

Shota Iizuka wins 200 meters

Men's 400 Meter Hurdles-Final

Favorite Jehue Gordon made up the stagger through five hurdles, but Takatoshi Abe began to make up ground. He was gaining significantly through the last hurdle and almost caught the favorite Gordon. Gordon ran 49.30 and Abe got a big PR, running 49.46. Third was Leslie Murray of the US Virgin Island and Delaware State U at 50.22.

Men's Javelin-Finals

Till Woschler of Germany,, the world junior leader, put this event away on his very first throw, throwing a new world junior leading throw of 270-9. That's number = #4 all-time. Joseph Zimmerman (U. of Washington) had a great meet. Not only did he finish fifth at 244-10 with a 6 feet personal best, but he moves to #2 all-time US Junior. His series: 218-6, 233-8, 239-11, 226-6, 244-10, 221-3.

1. Till Woschler Germany 270-9

2. Genki Dean Japan 250-9

3. Dmitri Tarabin Russia 250-9

4. Lars Timmerman Netherlands 248-3

5. Joseph Zimmerman USA 244-10

6. Rocco Van Rooyen South Africa 243-2

7. Zigismunds Sirmais Latvia 240-9

8. Chao-Tsun Cheng Taipei 234-10

9. Thomas Rohler Germany 229-5

10. Caleb Jones Canada 228-11

11. Daniel Pembroke Great Britain 223-6

12. Raymond Dykstra Canada 196-9

Women's Long Jump-Finals

1. Irisdaymi Herrera Cuba 21-0.5

2. Wupin Wang China 20-5.25

3. Marharyta Tverdohlib Ukraine 20-4.25

4. Chantel Malone British Virgin Islands 20-3

5. Anna Yermakova Ukraine 19-10.75

6. Brooke Stratton Australia 19-10.5

7. Marina Kraushofer Austria 19-9.75

8. Sveinbjorg Zophoniasdottir Iceland 19-6

9. Meruska Eduarda Netherlands Antilles 19-5.5

10. Ekaterina Khalyutina Russia 19-4.25

11. Karynn Dunn USA 19-1.5

12. Darya Ahmedova Uzbehkistan 19-0.75

Karyn Dunn

Women's 200 meters-Finals

Stormy Kendrick of the US (Clemson) pulled off the first major upset of the meet. She had looked great in the rounds but was certainly not the favorite. Jodie Williams of Great Britain, the 100 meter champion, had not lost a race in over 150 tries over the past three years and was expected to win this one. But Kendrick, who did not start especially well, took over from 5 meters to the finish and won decisively running a big PR of 22.99, her prior best being 23.34. Williams was second in 23.19 and Jamille Samuel (Netherlands) third in 23.27. This was quite an improvement for the soon-to-be sophomore at Clemson. She was not on the radar in high school. Her best was 24.91 in 2009 which was in the preliminaries of the North Carolina 3A meet running for Forestview High School of Gastonia, NC. She won that event in 25.13. However, she did have a best of 24.32 in 2008.

Stormy Kendrick poses with American flag and with David Smith (silver medalist - high jump)

Men's High Jump Final

David Smith of the U.S. (Lovejoy, Hampton, GA) had a great meet, getting the silver. He had no misses until 7-4.25 where he missed once before making it on his second attempt. The bar was raised to 7-5, where he had two great attempts but could not clear. Matuz Barshim of Qatar, the world leader at 7-7, won at 7-6.5. He made 7-5 on his second attempt and was "clear" through that height. Smith was the third ever American to medal in this event. Hollis Conway was second in 1986 and Andra Manson won in 2002.

Final standings

1. Mutaz Barshim Qatar 7-6.5

2. David Smith USA 7-4.25

3. Naoto Tobe Japan 7-3

4. Nikita Anishchenkov Russia 7-3

5. Qichao Jin China 7-3

6. Edgar Rivera Mexico 7-1.5

7. Juroslaw Rutkowski Poland 7-1.5

7. Carlos Layoy Argentina 7-1.5

7. Erik Sundlof Sweden 7-1.5

10. Janick Klausen Denmark 7-1.5

11. Brandon Wilhelm Canada 6-11.75

12. Giuseppe Carollo Italy 6-11.75

Men's 4x100m Relay Semi-Finals

Semi 2 — The U.S. got the fastest time in the world despite an almost disastrous exchange between legs 2 and 3. They ran 39.69 for a World Junior lead, and would have been close to 39.00 with a better 2-to-3 pass. Nigeria was the other auto qualifier in 39.95.

Semi 3 — A very tight finish between Japan, Germany and Great Britain, with all three advancing.

Qualifiers for the final:

Jamaica 39.74

Trinidad 39.88

USA 39.69

Nigeria 39.95

Thailand 40.00

Japan 40.04

Germany 40.06

Great Britain 40.07

Women's 4x100m Relay Semi-Finals

Semi 1 — Good stick passing for Germany and Jamaica got them the first two auto qualifying spots, with Germany besting Jamaica, 44.52 to 44.68. The Netherlands was third to also qualify automatically, running 44.70.

Semi 2- Great passing by the U.S. got them the World Junior leader at 43.56. It is also #6 all-time. Second was Great Britain in 44.62 and hometown favorite Canada third in 44.77

Men's Hammer Throw Qualifying

Group A — Conor Mc Cullough of the US (Princeton) got his auto qualifier on his first throw, the longest of this group, 249-6

Conor McCullough

Group B — Akos Hudi of Hungary looks to be the main competition for Mc Cullough, throwing 251-4 and winning his group. American Justin Welch (Eastwood, Pemberville, OH) qualified for the final as well.

Qualifiers

Group A Conor Mc Cullough USA 249-6

Bartlomiej Krupa Poland 234-9

Daniel Szabo Hungary 232-7

Edgards Gailis Latvia 223-6

Tomas Kruzliak Slovakia 221-5

Group B

Akos Hudi Hungary 251-4

Alaa El-Din El-Ashry Egypt 240-3

Pavel Bareisha Belarus 237-4

Quentin Bigot France 231-0

Marcn Pastuszko Poland 224-10

Justin Welch USA 221-4

Paul Hutzen Germany 219-3

Women's High Jump Qualifying

Ten of the twelve qualifiers cleared 5-11.25, one of whom was American Hannah Willms (Dike-New Hartford, Dike, IA). Two others cleared 5-10 and filled out the field based on fewer misses.

Maya Pressley of the U.S. (Auburn U), though clearing 5-10, did not advance based on those misses.

Qualifiers:

Group A Chiara Vitobello Italy 5-11.25

Airine Palsyte Lithuania 5-11.25

Marija Vukovic Montenegro 5-11.25

Elizabeth Lamb New Zealand 5-11.25

Michalina Kwasniewska Poland 5-11.25

Victoria Dronsfield Sweden 5-11.25

France Paul France 5-10

Group B

Hannah Van Hessche Belgium 5-11.25

Elena Vallortigara Italy 5-11.25

Sietske Noorman Netherlands 5-11.25

Hannah WIllms USA 5-11.25

Amy Pejkovic Australia 5-10

Men's 800 Meter Qualifying (6 heats: First 3 in each heat and the next 6 fastest advance to the Semi-Finals)

Heat 1 — Robby Andrews of the US (U of Virginia) ran his usual race, moving to the back of the field then kicking at the end. He begin his kick this time with 300 meters to go, but so did the three leaders. He managed to get around most down the homestretch and eased in for second (1:50.80) to automatically qualify.

Heat 2 — Dickson Tuwei of Kenya led from the gun to win in 1:49.84.

Heat 3 — Another Kenyan, David Mutua, also led from the gun to win in 1:49.37

Heat 4 — Cas Loxsom of the US (Penn State) remained in second most of the race, then took over the lead with 20 meters to go, easing to a 1:49.47 win. It was a fast heat, with the leader passing 400m at 52.72 and 600m at 1:21.43.

Heat 5 — The slowest of all the heats, won by Niall Brooks of Great Britain in 1:51.10. Brooks has a seasonal best of 1:47.29

Heat 6 — A relatively slow pace with Samir Dahmani of France winning in 1:50.80.

Men's Discus Throw qualifying

Group A — Won by Julian Wruck of Australia Alex Rose of the US (Central Michigan) finished 10th in 174-9 and will not advance.

Group B — Andrius Gudzius, the world leader and favorite with a best of 215-3, led this group at 207-2, the best of the competition by almost 8 feet. American Andrew Evans (U. of Michigan) threw 187-7 and will advance to the final In what I believe is a "first", two Jamaican athletes qualified to the final.

Andrew Evans

Qualifiers for the Final

Group A Julian Wruck Australia 196-5

Travis Smikle Jamaica 195-6

Lawrence Okoye Great Britain 195-5

Michael Salzer Germany 192-2

Danijel Furtula Montenegro 189-4

Andrei Gag Romania 186-11

Group B

Andrius Gudzuis Lithuania 207-2

Mykyta Nesterenko Ukraine 199-10

Chad Wright Jamaica 199-5

David Wrobel Great Britain 191-10

Eduardo Albertazzi Italy 191-6

Andrew Evans USA 187-7

Women's Pole Vault Qualifying

Both Americans, Kelsie Ahbe (Indiana U) and Shade Weygandt (Texas Tech), qualified for the finals. Weygandt had the highest clearance of the finalist, making 13-3.5 on her second attempt.

Qualifiers

Group A

Holly Bleasdale Great Britain 12-11.5

Michaela Meijer Sweden 12-11.5

Anzhelika Sidorova Russia 12-11.5

Kseniya Chertkoshvili Ukraine 12-11.5

Caroline Hasse Germany 12-11.5

Hulda Thorsteindottir Iceland 12-7.5

Keslie Ahbe USA 12-7.5

Group B

Shade Weygandt USA 13-3.5

Victoria von Eynatten Germany 12-11.5

Angelica Bengtsson Sweden 12-11.5

Amanda Bartrim Australia 12-11.5

Sally Scott Great Britain 12-11.5

Sara Bercan Slovenia 12-11.5

Mens 3000m Steeplechase Qualifying (First 4 in each heat and the next 4 fastest advance to the Final)

Section 1 — Albert Yator of Kenya came close to his PR in winning in 8:40.92. He led by significant margins throughout the race. Dakota Peachee of the US (High Point U) did not have a good race, finishing last in 9:27.68.

Section 2 — The world leader, Jonathan Ndiku of Kenya (8:19.25) toyed with the field though he finished second to Jacob Araptany of Uganda, 8:28.14 to 8:28.23.

Jared Berman of the US (Virginia Tech) ran the race of his life, bettering his PR by 9 seconds and running 8:55.33, the U.S. Junior lead. He qualified for the final.

Qualifiers for the final

Albert Yator Kenya 8:40.92

Kosei Yamaguchi Japan 8:49.74

Abdelaziz Mergougui Spain 8:53.96

Romain Collenot-Spriet France 8:54.50

Martin Grau Germany 8:55.15

Afewerk Mesfin Ethiopia 8:55.77

Jacob Araptany Uganda 8:28.14

Jonathan Ndiku Kenya 8:28.23

Desta Alemu Ethiopia 8:38.04

Tanguy Peptot France 8:49.38

Francois Marzetta Italy 8:51.43

Jared Berman USA 8:55.33

Men's 110m Hurdle Qualifying (7 heats: First 3 in each heat and the next 3 fastest advance to the Semi-Finals).

Notes:

Australians Sam Baines (13.88) and Mitchell Tysoe (13.72) won the first and second heats. Orlando Ortega of Cuba, with a best of 13.45 and ranked fifth in the world, clobbered hurdle 4 in heat 2 and did not finish.

The favorite, Jack Meredith of Great Britain, coming in with a world leading 13.32, won heat 3 easily in 13.77

Caleb Cross of the US (Arkansas) won with the fastest time of the day, 13.56. It wasn't pretty as he hit at least 3 hurdles.

Jonathan Cabral of the US (Agoura, CA) looked very good in winning his heat in 13.64. He looks to be in medal contention.

Pascal Martinot-Lagarde of France was very impressive in winning heat 6. Coming in with a best of 13.37 (#2 in the world) he cruised to 13.53, shutting it down with 10 meters remaining.

Another medal contender showed his face in Heat 7. Vladimir Vukicevic of Norway, ranked #4 in the world at 13.42, eased to a 13.49 win, the fastest time of the day.

Women's 1500 Meter Qualifying (2 Sections: First 3 in each heat and next 3 fastest advance to the final)

Section 1 — A relatively fast pace saw the leaders go through in 2:15.91 and 3:23.46. The winner was Tizita Bogale of Ethiopia in 4:12.95. She is ranked third in the world this year with a best of 4:08.73.

Rachel Schneider of the US (Georgetown) ran well in 7th, posting a time of 4:20.99 and not advancing

Section 2 — Unlike the prior section, this pace was slow. Jordan Hasay of the US (Oregon) was in the lead pack throughout the race. A pack of four separated themselves from the rest of the group by 1300 meters, then 3 by 1400 meters. Hasay qualified easily in 4:16.74, bested by .01 by Ireland's Ciara Mageean.