by Justin Lagat
Sasha Zhoya en route to WR U20 110m hurdles, 12.93, photo by Roger Sedres /for World Athletics
Matvei Volkov, pole vault, photo by Roger Sedres / for World Athletics
Ackera Nugent, photo by Roger Sedres / for World Athletics
This is Justin Lagat’s update on the morning session of Day 3 at the World Athletics U20 Nairobi 21.
The morning session on the third day of the championships was packed with a lot of action that it would not be possible to cover all of them in an article, or two.
Mine de Klerk, Violetta Ignatyeva, Aline Nikitsenka, Women’s discus, photo by Roger Sedres / for World Athletics
Authorized neutral athlete, Violetta Ignatyeva in the women’s discus final was impressively ahead of others with none getting to her nearest throw. 57.84 was her furthest throw and Mine De Klerk of South Africa managed a best throw of 53.50m for the silver medal, which is also a new area record.
Matvei Volkov, pole vault, photo by Dan Vernon / for World Athletics
Juho Alasaari of Finland and Matvei Volkov of Belarus battled for the gold medal in the men’s Pole Vault final with the gold medal eventually going to Volkov after clearing 5.45m.
Some of the exciting track events that took place included the first rounds of the men and women 100/110m hurdles. Two of the athletes who had featured at the pre-event conference had the chance to let their legs do the talk today. Jamaican, Ackera Nugent won the second heat of the women’s race in the second-fastest qualifying time of 13:35. French Sasha Zhoya won the third heat in what would become the fastest qualification time of 13:12 going into the semi-finals.
Ditaji Kambundji, 100m hurdles, photo by Roger Sedres / for World Athletics
There is still an element of an expected fierce rivalry between Kenya and Ethiopia in the women’s 1500m heats. Ethiopia’s Deribe Welteji won the first heat in 4:26.26 ahead of Kenya’s Winnie Jemutai who finished second in 4:26.47. In the second heat, Kenya’s Purity Chepkirui (4:22.10) won it ahead of Ethiopia’s Hiwott Mehari (4:22.37).
Janne Laspe, javelin, photo by Roger Sedres / for World Athletics
The second-last event on the track for the morning session was the women’s 200m heats. After a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics, winning the 200m events here at the world athletics under 20 championships should probably be just a normal walk in the park for Christine Mboma of Namibia. She showed that by easily cruising to win the first heat in 23.23. Beatrice Masilingi from the same country, and who won silver in the 100m race took the second heat in 22.65.
View Jingwi of South Africa won the third heat in 23.84, Jamaica’s Brianna Lyston the fourth heat in a PB of 23.18 while Nigeria’s Favour Ofili dominated the last heat in the second-fastest qualification time of 22.74.
Round one of the men’s 200m completed the morning session on track. While the winner of the 100m gold did not come back for more, Letsile Tebogo came back in the men’s event and won the fifth heat in 20.63. Udodi OnwuzuriKe of Nigeria ran a personal best time of 20.47 to win the first heat before falling down just after the finish line. Bahama’s Wendel Miller took the second heat in 20.72. The third heat was won by Bryant Levell of Jamaica in 20.90. Tazana Kamanga-Dyrbak of Denmark won the fourth heat in 20.53.
