Four Jamaicans advance to 200m semis at World U-20 Championships
OREGON, United States — All four Jamaicans have advanced to the semi-finals of the 200m following Friday’s opening-round heats at the World Athletics Under-20 Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, with Shanoya Douglas and Sashana Johnson leading the way for the women with impressive sub-23.00-second performances.
The first two rounds of the event are being contested on Friday, with the final scheduled for Saturday’s penultimate day of competition.
Gary Card, the 100m silver medallist from Thursday, was initially disqualified for a lane violation but was subsequently reinstated after a successful appeal by the Jamaican officials.
Card, the second-fastest Jamaican junior male over 200m behind sprint legend Usain Bolt, finished second in his heat in 20.76 seconds (0.5m/s), behind Japan’s Tomoro Ide.
Nathaniel Martin, the winner of the 200m at the JAAA National Junior Championships, was third in his heat in 21.00 seconds (-0.1m/s) to book an automatic semi-final spot.
On the women’s side, Douglas, who is aiming for her second medal of the championships after claiming silver in the 100m on Thursday, comfortably won her heat in 22.88 seconds (-0.3m/s). She is also seeking another 200m medal after taking bronze at the previous championships in Lima, Peru, two years ago.
Johnson, meanwhile, broke the 23-second barrier for the first time, clocking 22.95 seconds (0.5m/s) to win her heat and improve on her previous personal best of 23.01 seconds.
— Paul A Reid
