by Justin Lagat
Sasha Zhoya goes 12.72, 110m hurdles, WU20 record, photo by Roger Sedres for World Athletics
Sasha Zhoya just set WU20 110m hurdles of 12.72, photo by Roger Sedres for World Athletics
This is Justin Lagat’s report on Session 2, Day 4. Justin has reported on all 4 days for us so far of the World Athletics U20 Championships, in Nairobi, Kenya.
Well, someone who was at the stadium will now have something to tell the generations to come. That they were there at the Stadium when the world’s fastest time in the men’s 110m hurdles was run! Sasha Zhoya ran a sensational 110m hurdles final that left everyone in the stadium on their feet. He recorded a new world under 20 record of 12.72; which is faster than the senior men’s record of 12.80, set by Aries Merritt of the USA in 2012. Vascaun Vascianna of Jamaica was second in a new PB time of 13.25, followed by Jakub Szymanski of Poland, also in a new PB of 13.43.
Christine Mboma ran 21.84 in 200m, photo by Roger Sedres for World Athletics
Another record run came in the women’s 200m final after three of the runners had run under the old championship record yesterday to win their respective heats. Namibia’s Christine Mboma ran a fantastic championship record time of 21.84 ahead of Beatrice Masilingi who also registered a personal best time of 22.18 and Favour Ofili also in a new national record of 22.23.
Ackera Nugent took gold in the 100m hurdles, photo by Roger Sedres for World Athletics
The women’s 100m hurdles were the first final on track, in the afternoon of the fourth day of the ongoing competitions in Kasarani. From the first rounds, it had been building up into a very exciting final between Ditaji Kambundji of Switzerland and Ackera Nugent of Jamaica as the two seemed to have been easily winning their respective heats. In the final, the two had the mid lanes and ran side by as they began to break away from others. Then suddenly, in the midway, Kambundji’s leg touched the hurdle and she fell down leaving the Jamaican alone to go ahead and win the gold medal in 12.95. Anna Millend of Estonia came in second for the silver medal in 13.45 while Hannah Toth of Hungary won the bronze in 13.58.
Vincent Kibet Kiter took gold in the 1,500m, photo by Roger Sedres for World Athletics
Before the excitement on Zhoya’s world record performance could die down, Vincent Keter bagged a fifth gold medal for Kenya in the men’s 1500m final winning the race in 3:37.24. Ethiopia’s Wegene Addisu followed in 3:37.86 and his compatriot, Melkene Azize won the bronze in 3:40.22 after Kamar Etyang got disqualified.
Ayal Dagnachew took gold in the 800m, photo by Roger Sedres
Ethiopia won their second gold medal at the championships through Ayal Dagnachew in the women’s 800m final after running 2:02.96 to win it ahead of Rosamila Valentina of Switzerland (2:04.29) and Elli Deligianni of Greece (2:04.66).
Anthony Pesala took gold in the 400m, photo by Roger Sedres for World Athletics
Anthony Pesela of Botswana registered a new championship record and a new PB of 44.58 to win the men’s 400m final ahead of Luis Aviles of Mexico (44.95) and Matthys Nortje of South Africa (45.32).
Imaobong Nse Uko took gold in the 400m, photo by Roger Sedres for World Athletics
Imaobong Nse Uko of Nigeria ran a PB of 51.55 to win gold in the women’s 400m final. Kornelia Lesiewicz of Poland was second in 51.97 while Kenya’s Sylvia Chelangat got the bronze medal in 52.23. All the top four runners in this race ran their personal best times.
