Thursday, July 16, 2015

Lucas sets World Youth lead on Day 2 of World Youth Championships

 

7/16/2015
 
CALI, Colombia -- Team USA posted another World Youth best in sprint hurdles as the second day of competition matched the scorching South American temperatures at Estadio Olimpico Pascual Guerrero.

In a repeat of the U.S. team’s first-day success, Isaiah Lucas (Houston, Texas) ran the fastest time of the day in the fifth heat of the men’s 110mH, skimming the 36-inch barriers in a world youth-leading 13.44. Norman Grimes (Canyon, Texas) made easy work of the fourth heat, clocking 13.62 for the win and a spot in the semifinal.

On Day 1, 100m hurdler Alexis Duncan (Lancaster, Texas) set a world youth lead for the women, clocking 13.13 for a personal best and comfortable win heading into the semifinals.

George Patrick (Brentwood, Tennessee) started Day 2 of decathlon in second place with 4,077 points. His first event on the track was the 110mH, where he ran a personal-best 13.99 in the third section for his fifth PR over six events. He added a 41.71m/136-10 on his third attempt in Group A of the discus and was third in the point standings heading into the pole vault.

In 100 meters qualifying, Candace Hill (Stockbridge, Georgia) ran a comfortable 11.47 in the first heat, and Jayla Kirkland (Birmingham, Alabama) ran 11.76 for second place in heat seven.

Nickolette Dunbar (Whippany, New Jersey) threw 17.36m/56-11.5 in the first round of the women’s shot put for a lifetime best and an automatic qualifier to the final. Dunbar tossed the best throw of Group B, beating her previous PR of 16.91, set at the trials event in Lisle. On her first throw, Sophia Rivera (Brentwood, Missouri) threw the distance for the auto qualifier, but it was foul. She remedied that on her second attempt, nailing a 16.51m/54-2 throw to advance to the final.

Rivera has qualified for an unusual double, as she will simultaneously compete in the shot put and javelin finals, a first for any athlete at any level of international competition.

Jaron Brooks (Lexington, Kentucky) and Darius Carbin (San Jose, California) cleared 2.08m/6-9.75 on their first attempts and had no misses at previous heights as both qualified for the final of the men’s high jump.

Mason Coppi (Aliso Viejo, Texas) raced to a personal best 8:38.71 to place eighth in heat one of the men’s 3000, just missing out on a spot in the final.              
Julia Heymach (Houston, Texas) remained on the inside in among the top-three from the start into the bell lap. She slipped to the back of the pack on the back straightaway but turned on a strong kick to finish sixth in 4:21.91, the fastest time of her career and fast enough to clinch a spot in the final.

In the final heat of the women’s 800, Sammy Watson (Rochester, New York) won in commanding fashion, turning in the fastest time of the day at 2:06.05 to top her nearest competitor in the heat by three seconds. Amanda Thomas (Chesapeake, Virginia) led through 400 in heat 2 at 64.04 and was still running strong with 300 meters to go. She slipped to fourth on the back straight, but was back in contention for a qualifying spot before a close crossing at the end led to fourth palce in 2:10.41 and jsut out of the semifinal qualifying picture.

On his second throw of the qualifying round in Group A, Bobby Colantonio (Barrington , Rhode Island) uncorked a 72.69m/238-6 effort that surpassed the automatic qualifying standard and earned him a place in the final of the men’s hammer.
                                  
Again virtually unchallenged, Sydney McLaughlin (South Plainfield, New Jersey) won the first semifinal of the women’s 400mH by almost two seconds in 56.79, and teammate Brandeé Johnson (Suffolk, Virginia) made it a semi sweep for Team USA, albeit by a much tighter margin as she won the second section by .05 in 58.51.

Follow along with the action and join the conversation by following USATF on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram using the hashtag #Cali2015.

The complete event schedule and results are posted at IAAF.org.


Christa Mann
Marketing & Communications Manager
USA Track & Field
317.713.4672
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