The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

COMPETITION began yesterday at the 15th IAAF World Junior Championships, with 11 of the Bahamas’ 24- member team in action at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.

Several Bahamian sprinters advanced out of the heats into the semi-finals of their respective events, including Kirk Lewis in the 110m hurdles, Henri Delauze and Janeko Cartwright in the 400m and Keianna Albury in the 100m.

First up on the track for the Bahamas was the men’s 110m hurdles where Lewis was able to secure the final qualifying spot in a 24-member field on their way to the semi-finals.

Despite the slowest reaction time in the field (.243), he recovered to finish third in heat five and receive an automatic qualifying time of 13.93 seconds.

Tyler Mason of Jamaica finished first in 13.46s and Ruebin Walters of Trinidad and Tobago was second in 13.76. Xavier Coakley finished fourth in heat one in a time of 14.01s and failed to qualify.

Great Britain’s David Omoregie was the fastest qualifier in the field in 13.24s, followed by Wilhem Belocian of France in 13.40s and Mason.

In the men’s century, neither Bahamian sprinter was able to advance. Cliff Resias came in with a SB of 10.50s, but finished fourth in heat three in a time of 10.60s. Andre Azonwanna of Canada won the heat in 10.33s, a new personal best (PB).

Keanu Pennerman also ran well below his SB of 10.51s and finished fourth in heat four in 10.57s.

World Junior record holder Trayvon Brommell of the US was the top overall finisher in the event in 10.13s while his teammate Kendal Williams was second with a new PB of 10.23s.

Cejhae Greene of Antigua and Barbuda was the third fastest qualifier in 10.26s, also a PB time.

In the evening session, the quarter-milers were the most productive duo for team Bahamas with a pair of berths to the semi-finals.

Grouped with the top 400m runners in the Caribbean, Henri Delauze finished third in heat six and earned an automatic qualification in a time of 47.07s.

Machel Cedenio of Trinidad and Tobago finished first in the race in a time of 46.60s and Juander Santos of the Dominican Republic was second in 47.02s.

Janeko Cartwright finished fourth in heat five but qualified with his time of 47.10s as one of the next three fastest times.

Nobuya Kato of Japan was the fastest qualifier in 46.23s, Tyler Brown of the United States qualified second fastest in 46.45s and Jack Crosby set a new PB and was the third fastest qualifier in 46.48s.

In the women’s 100m, Keianna Albury received an automatic qualification when she finished third in heat five in 11.70s.

Dina Asher-Smith of Great Britain took first in 11.18s and Tamiris De Liz of Brazil was second in 11.68s.

Brianne Bethel finished fifth in heat five in 11.88s and did not advance.

Day one for the Bahamas concluded in the field with Danielle Gibson in the women’s long jump, however results were unavailable up to press time last night.

Day two for the Bahamas will begin in the field, with LaQuan Nairn in the men’s long jump at 1pm.

At 2:35pm, Shaquania Dorsett will run in lane five, heat five of the women’s 400m, followed by D’Mitry Charlton in lane four, heat five of the men’s 400m hurdles at 3:10pm.

In the afternoon session, Lewis will run in the 110m hurdles semis at 8:35pm, followed by Delauze and Cartwright in the 400m at 8:45pm

Albury will contest the 100m semi-finals at 9:20pm.

The 2014 edition of the World Junior Championships, which concludes July 27, features 1,546 athletes entered (831 men and 715 women), representing 175 IAAF member federations.