OREGON, USA — Jabari Matheson will run his fourth 400m over the first two days of the World Athletics Under 20 Championships when he lines up in the individual semi-finals of the distance in the afternoon session Thursday.

Matheson ran the lead off legs in both the first round and final of the mixed 4x400m relay on Wednesday, and returned on Thursday to win his first round race in the men’s 400m in 46.40 seconds.

So far, he has been consistent after running 46.65 seconds in first round of the relays and 46.48 seconds in the final where Jamaica set a national Under-20 record 3:18.78 despite just failed to get a medal, finishing fourth.

After the first round of the men’s individual race on Thursday, he admitted to some fatigue, telling reporters, “my legs are feeling a bit heavy, I need to go recover as best as I can.”

In the semi-finals he will be joined by Jason Pitter who looked sluggish in his first round race, placing fourth in 46.83 seconds to qualify on time for the second round.

Daniellia Dixon and Shamieka McLean also qualified for their women’s 400m semi-finals after the morning’s first round.

Dixon won her heat in 53.19 seconds, admitting to being nervous and said she planned on running faster in the semis.

McLean, who was part of the mixed 4x400m team that ran the first round, was third in her first round heat in 53.95 seconds.
-Paul A Reid