Hunt on for more medals »

Hunt on for more medals

Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

World Junior 100m champion Dexter Lee (centre) poses with his gold medal after yesterday's presentation ceremony at the 12th IAAF World Junior Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland. Lee won the men's 100m on Wednesday in 10.40 seconds. At left is silver medallist Wilhelm van der Vyver of South Africa, and American bronze medallist Terrell Wilks. - Photo by Anthony Foster

BYDGOSZCZ, Poland:

World Youth triple medallist Nickel Ash-meade and Nikita Tracey will try to improve on Jamaica's medal tally on today's fourth day of the 12th IAAF World Junior Championships.

After three days, Jamaica's only medal is the 100 metres gold won by Dexter Lee.

Ashmeade, who won silver in the 100m and bronze medals in the 200m and medley relay at last year's World Youth Championships, is in the 200m final. Edwin Allen High sixth former Tracey will run in the 400m hurdles final.

Ashmeade clocked 20.83 seconds to win his semi-final but will start today's final as the second fastest behind American Curtis Mitchell, winner of semi-final two in 20.74.

"My start was not the best, but I worked hard to get back into the race," Ashmeade explained.

He added, "I am just going out there to do my best in the final."

Failed to advance

Ramone McKenzie, the World Youth 200m champion, failed to advance, finishing eighth in semi-final three in 21.60. McKenzie, who was set back in his preparation due to injury, said, "I think I did my best, but I was just a little race rusty."

In the girls' event, Jura Levy also advanced to today's final with her 23.92 for second in semi-final one, while Trisha-Ann Hawthorne, who ran 24.12 in the preliminary, did not face the starter.

Levy also expressed satisfaction with her performance so far.

"My aim was to make the final and now that I am in, I am happy. I am just going in to do my best and to win a medal for my country."

Earlier, in the morning session, Tracey was third in her semi-final in 57.84.

"It (race) was very tough, more competitive than the first round," admitted Tracey, who ran a personal best 57.58 seconds in Wednesday's preliminary.

Great Britain's Meghan Beesley, who won Tracey's semi-final in 57.24, and American Takecia Jameson, winner of semi-final two in 57.31, are the fastest going into the final.

Tracey admitted she had some problems clearing the hurdles but, said that is behind her now as the focus switches to today's final. "I am going out there to do my best and, hopefully, to get a medal."

At the last World Junior Championships, held in Beijing, China, Kaliese Spencer and Sherene Pinnock won gold and bronze, respectively, for Jamaica in the women's 400m hurdles.

Shana-Gaye Tracey, who has struggled with a right hamstring injury this season, did not finish heat two of the 400m hurdles semi-finals.

Meanwhile, in the sprint hurdles, Jamaica's best bets for medals on the female side, Natasha Ruddock and Shermaine Williams, have booked berths in today's semi-finals. Both athletes, Ruddock the 2005 World Youth silver medal winner and Williams, who collected silver two years later, finished second in their respective heats.

Ruddock, who ran with her right hamstring heavily strapped, clocked 13.73 while Williams did 13.38.

Salcia Slack will open her campaign for a medal in the women's heptathlon today.

The men's and women's sprint relay teams will also take to the track today.

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