OREGON, USA — Keith Wellington, team leader for Jamaica at the 21st staging of the World Athletics Under-20 Championships, says the team performed well despite the challenges of a long season.

Jamaica won eight medals — two gold, three silver and three bronze — to finish fourth on the medal table and third in the placing table with 89 points.

Hosts United States topped both tables with 24 medals —12 gold, seven silver and five bronze. Kenya were second with 11 medals — four gold, three silver and four bronze — while Italy finished third with five medals — three gold and two bronze.

Shanoya Douglas was Jamaica’s most successful athlete, winning three medals — gold in the women’s 4x100m relay and silver in the 100m and 200m.

Wellington said the performances were particularly impressive given that most of the athletes had been competing since January.

“I think under any circumstances this would be a really good performance,” Wellington told the Jamaica Observer on Sunday before the final two relays were contested. “Eight medals to date, and third in terms of quality.”

He said the overall standard at the championships had improved significantly.

“We have seen some really world-class standards, not just as juniors but the quality of the performances has been really, really good overall for all the countries. And so, to still be amongst the best, I think, we would be proud of the performances.”

Wellington singled out Michael Andre Edwards’ dramatic victory in the men’s triple jump during which he produced a World Under-20-leading and personal best 17.08m — the fifth-longest winning mark in the history of the event at the championships.

“Yeah, I think the obvious standout would be Team Captain Michael Andre’s performance. Not just the 17.08m but remember, you know, he took the lead with his second-to-last jump. It was taken away from him and he came back and claimed it. So it’s not just the result, but the quality and the performance there.”

He also highlighted the men’s discus throw competition on Sunday involving Jamaicans Joseph Salmon and Kamari Kennedy, when the lead changed several times over the final two rounds.

Jamaica also set two national records in the mixed 4x100m relay, which was contested for the first time at the championships, and the mixed 4x400m relay.

Ten Jamaicans produced personal bests, including Shevaughn Thomas and Sashane Johnson who each recorded two personal best performances.

Wellington said the athletes’ performances should not be judged solely by their results, pointing to the demands of the Jamaican school season.

“I think we don’t want to just look at the results, but look at the performances and you can see quite a few quality performances. And we cannot ignore, again, that our juniors have a really long season; and it is the schools that invest most in these kids, so they have to peak for champs because that is where the investment is,” he said.

“And so, for them to come back five months after their last performance for their schools again is sometimes a challenge that many of them have exams in the middle and all of that. So, I think it’s an incredible performance.”

WELLINGTON…I think we don’t want to just look at the results, but look at the performances