Highlighted by meet record in women’s 4x100 relay, along with victories in women’s 200, men’s high jump and triple jump, Jamaica shines following weather delay; American U20 record in women’s 4x100, bronze for U.S. men’s 4x100

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

The national anthem of “Jamaica, Land We Love,” might have seemed like it was on a continuous loop Friday night at the World Athletics U20 Championships.

But after capturing four gold medals in less than an hour following another significant rain delay at Pascual Guerrero Olympic Stadium in Cali, Colombia, it was truly a magical night for the Jamaicans, highlighted by a potential World U20 record in the women’s 4x100-meter relay, along with titles in the women’s 200 meters, men’s high jump and triple jump.

INTERVIEWS | TIMETABLE/RESULTS

Serena Cole, Tina Clayton, Kerrica Hill and Tia Clayton ran 42.59 seconds, the fastest time in meet history, to secure back-to-back gold medals after winning last year in 42.94 in Kenya.

Jamaica did run 42.58 in Kingston in April, but the mark has yet to be ratified as the World U20 record.

Either way, Jamaica is now responsible for the four fastest World U20 relay performances in history, with Friday’s effort good enough to have placed in the top five at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon.

The quartet of Jayla Jamison, Autumn Wilson, Iyana Gray and Shawnti Jackson produced an American U20 record in securing the silver medal in 43.28, with Colombia providing a memorable moment for its loyal supporters by earning the bronze in 44.59.

South Carolina’s Jamison, who also earned silver in the 200-meter final in a personal-best 22.77, teamed with Georgia commit Wilson, Texas-Arlington’s Gray and Wakefield High of North Carolina standout Jackson to eclipse the 2006 mark of 43.29 and equal the No. 6 performance in World U20 history.

Bianca Knight, Jeneba Tarmoh, Elizabeth Olear and Gabrielle Mayo achieved the previous U.S. U20 record at the Nike Road to Eugene in 2008 event at Hayward Field.

Jackson became the first American female athlete since Candace Hill in 2016 in Poland to medal in both the 100-meter final and the 4x100 relay at the same World U20 Championships. Jamison became the first U.S. women’s competitor to medal in both the 200 and 4x100 relay since Kaylin Whitney in 2014 at Hayward Field.

Following the conclusion of the men’s 4x100 relay, it appeared the U.S. had been shut out of a medal for the first time at a World U20 Championships that it attended since 2000.

But once it was discovered that potential gold medalist South Africa was disqualified for a lane violation, the American quartet of Baylor’s Laurenz Colbert, Alabama-Huntsville’s Michael Gizzi, Grand Valley State’s Brandon Miller and USC’s Johnny Brackins was upgraded to bronze in 39.57.

Japan and Jamaica were credited with the same time of 39.35, but Japan was awarded its first 4x100 gold medal in meet history, denying South Africa back-to-back championships.

The U.S. had won six consecutive titles from 2008-18, before not attending last year’s meet in Kenya.

It took only one attempt for Arkansas signee Jaydon Hibbert to win the first men’s triple jump gold medal in meet history for Jamaica.

Hibbert, 17, produced a lifetime-best 56-8 (17.27m) on his first jump to ascend to the No. 8 all-time World U20 competitor, just missing the 1994 Jamaican U20 record of 56-8.75 (17.29m) established by James Beckford after earning silver last year in Kenya with a mark of 52-8 (16.05m).

Selva P. Thirumaran of India captured silver with a personal-best 53-foot effort (16.15m) and Viktor Morozov of Estonia earned bronze with a lifetime-best mark of 52-11 (16.13m).

Floyd Whitaker of Minnesota produced a personal-best 52-6.50 (16.01m) in the final round to elevate to fifth place, with Texas’ Solomon Washington finishing eighth at 51-0.25 (15.55m).

One of the events most affected by the weather delay was the men’s high jump final, which had six athletes remaining at 7-0.25 (2.14m) when the competition was postponed by a heavy rainstorm.

Jamaica’s Brandon Pottinger, a graduate of Palmer Trinity Catholic School in Florida, managed the only clearance once competition resumed, by making the championship height on his second try to also win the first gold medal in the event for his country in World U20 Championships history.

South Africa’s Brian Raats and Bulgaria’s Bozhidar Saraboyukov shared the silver medal after both athletes missed all three opportunities at 7-0.25, but were each clean at all their earlier heights.

The first final contested following the weather delay was the women’s 200, with Jamaica’s Brianna Lyston capturing the first gold of the evening for her country in 22.65 and teammate Alana Reid earning bronze in a personal-best 22.95.

Jamison made the podium again for the Americans and 16-year-old Mia Brahe-Pedersen of Lake Oswego High in Oregon finished fourth in 23.06.

For the first time since 2004, the men’s 400-meter hurdles final showcased a pair of sub-49 performances, with Turkey’s Ismail Nezir edging Slovenia’s Matic Ian Gucek in a thrilling finish by a 48.84 to 48.91 margin.

Jamaica’s Roshawn Clarke, who clipped the final hurdle, grabbed bronze in 49.62.

Yan Vazquez, a UCLA signee and Red Mountain High of Arizona graduate, finished fourth by lowering his own Puerto Rican U20 record to 50.18.

Artur Felfner won an emotional first men’s javelin title for Ukraine, launching his fifth-round throw 260-4 (79.36m).

Germany’s Max Dehning secured silver at 253-5 (77.24m) and Keyshawn Strachan of the Bahamas responded with a clutch fifth-round effort to ascend to third with a 239-4 (72.95m) mark.

Evan Niedrowski of Monmouth finished eighth for the U.S. with a third-round performance of 227-2 (69.25m).

Plamena Mitkova became the first women’s long jump champion for Bulgaria since 1990 with a personal-best 21-10.25 (6.66m) effort in the third round.

Colombia earned another medal, as Natalia Linares secured silver with a leap of 21-7.50 (6.59m) and Italy’s Marta Amouhin Amani took bronze with a lifetime-best 21-4.75 (6.52m).

East Africans dominated the men’s 3,000 final, with Ethiopia winning another title after the event was first introduced last year.

Melkeneh Azize surged in the final 800 meters to prevail in 7:44.06, ahead of Kenyan athletes Felix Kiptarus Korir (7:47.86) and Edwin Kimosong Kisalsak (7:49.82).

The women’s hammer throw final was the last to conclude after being interrupted following one round due to the weather delay.

Italy’s Rachele Mori achieved a fifth-round throw of 220-6 (67.21m) to become the first female athlete from her country to win the title in meet history.

Mexico’s Paola Bueno Calvillo captured silver at 205-10 (62.74m), with Japan’s Raika Murakami earning bronze at 201-7 (61.45m).

Perhaps the most exciting finish of the day came in the first championship event, with Mexico’s Karla Ximena Serrano surging emphatically with her final five steps to get past Japan’s Ai Ooyama by a 46:24.35 to 46:24.44 margin in the women’s 10,000-meter racewalk final.

Ayane Yanai added a bronze medal for Japan in 46:43.07, marking the first time the country placed two competitors on the podium in the event at the World U20 Championships.

Talia Green of College Prep High in Oakland, Calif., was 28th for the U.S. in 51:12.16 and Angelica Harris of South Elgin High in Illinois placed 34th in 52:32.40.

Before Nezir’s victory in the 400 hurdles, Turkey secured its first gold medal of the day when Mazlum Demir won the men’s 10,000 racewalk title in 42:36.02. Hayrettin Yildiz added a bronze medal for Turkey in 43:07.95, the first occasion that the country secured two medals in the event in meet history.

Algeria’s Ismail Benhammouda achieved a silver medal by clocking 42:42.49.

Jamaica produced the two fastest times in the women’s 100-meter hurdles semifinals, with Hill running a wind-legal 12.87 to achieve the fastest World U20 performance this year and Alexis James clocking 12.94. USC’s Jalaysiya Smith also advanced to the final for the Americans in 13.20.

Kenya’s Noah Kibet led all qualifiers into the men’s 800 final in 1:46.37.

Princeton’s Samuel Rodman (1:49.47) and Michigan’s Miles Brown (1:50.17) were unable to reach the final for the U.S., with 1:48.76 the cutoff to advance to the championship.

Sharifa Davronova of Uzbekistan and Germany’s Anna Grafin Keyserlingk both led the qualifying of the women’s triple jump with 43-5.25 (13.24m) efforts.

Agur Dwol of Mullen High in Colorado, an Oklahoma commit, advanced for the U.S. with a personal-best 42-11.50 (13.09m). Suzan Ogunleye of Pflugerville Henderickson in Texas was unable to qualify with a mark of 40-6.25 (12.35m).

Mykhailo Brudin of Ukraine led all qualifiers in the men’s discus throw prelims with a lifetime-best 201-8 (61.47m).

Sam Houston State’s Kevin Grubbs achieved a personal-best 197-9 (60.29m) and Liberty’s Desmond Coleman also moved on to the final to represent the U.S. with a mark of 196-2 (59.79m).

The American quartet of Mekenze Kelley, Madison Whyte, Zaya Akins and Kennedy Wade led all countries advancing to the women’s 4x400 relay final by clocking 3:32.94.

Japan led men’s 4x400 qualifying in 3:07.25, with the U.S. lineup of Ashton Schwartzman, Kody Blackwood, Grant Williams and Will Sumner running 3:07.82 to also advance.