Report11 Jul 2013


World youth best gets Thompson the gold

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Yanique Thompson in the girls' 100m Hurdles Final at the IAAF World Youth Championships 2013 (© Getty Images)

Flying to a 12.94 World youth best, Jamaica’s Yanique Thompson captured her nation’s first gold medal in this event during the eight editions of this championship, following their three silver medals at the 2003, 2005 and 2007 events.

The 17-year-old had ran no faster than 13.23 before arriving in Donestk but registered 13.10 in her semi-final winning performance before saving her best for the final.

Pulling clear in the final 10 metres after a blistering start and having cleared all ten barriers with ease, the Jamaican was followed by the USA’s Dior Hall who sped to a 13.01 personal best to take the silver medal ahead of team-mate Mikiah Brisco (13.29) in third with another lifetime best mark.

Seventeen-year-old Hall improved from 13.16 in the semi-final stage – a World youth lead before Thompson’s 13.10 – and was a semi-finalist at the World Junior Championships in Barcelona last summer.

The previous World youth best for the 76cm-height hurdles was set by Adriana Lamalle of France back in 1999, though in 1979 USA’s Candy Young ran a superior 12.95 over the senior-height hurdles.

Hall and Brisco’s silverware continued the fine US showing in this event, following three gold, one silver and four bronze medals for the USA in the 14-year history of this championship.

In fourth, Jamaica’s Rushelle Burton clocked a 13.32 personal best, with Sweden’s Adriana Janic close behind in fifth with a 13.33 lifetime best.

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