BYDGOSZCZ, Poland – Jamaica finished the IAAF World Under 20 championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland on a high with a silver and bronze medal in the girls and boys 4x400m relays respectively to end the six day championships with a commendable haul of eight medals, three coming on the final day.

The eight medals, two gold, three silver and three bronze placed Jamaica fifth and was the most won since the championship in 2006 at Beijing, China and the two gold medals were achieved on six other occasions.

Despite coming into the final with the best time an adding 400m hurdles silver medallist Shannon Kalawan, the girls had to be satisfied with second in 3:31.01 seconds behind the USA who won in a world under 20 leading – 3:29.11 seconds and Canada was third in a national Under 20 record 3:32.25 seconds.

Tiffany James ran the second leg handing off to Stacey Williams while Junelle Bromfield anchored.

The boys team of Anthony Carpenter, Sean Bailey, Terry Thomas and Christopher Taylor delivered a surprise bronze, running a season’s best 3:04.83 seconds. The USA won in a World Under 20 leading 3:02.39 seconds and pre race favorites Botswana who ran an African Under20 record 3:02.81 seconds.

Paul Reid