TAMPERE, Finland — It was a perfect six for Jamaican athletes this morning at the opening session of the 16th IAAF World Under-20 championships at the Tampere Stadium in Tampere, Finland.

Under blue skies and conditions similar to Jamaica, male long jumpers Wayne Pinnock, 7.76m (1.7m/s), and Shakwon Coke, 7.55m (0.0m/s), both qualified for tomorrow’s final.

Michael Stephens clocked a personal best 10.30 seconds (0.2m/s) as he and Michael Bentley, 10.34s (0.5m/s), both advanced to Wednesday’s semi-finals in the men’s 100m.

Despite aggravating a hamstring injury and having to be led off the track in tears, Shaquena Foote (2 minutes 07.75 seconds) and Chrissani May (2 minutes 09.88 seconds) also advanced to the semi-finals in the women’s 800m.

One other Jamaican athlete will compete on the opening day, Stacey- Ann Williams in the women’s 400m first round at 5:14 pm local time (9:14 am Jamaica time).

Team manager Ewan Scott said the good start will lift the already good spirits in the camp. “We have had a good start, as expected,” he said, “and getting to Finland early helped the athletes to acclimatise”.

Paul A Reid