The United States struck gold in the men’s 4×400 metres relay race to cap off their dominant showing at the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Under-20 Championships on the final day of the event in Bydgoszcz.
The American quartet of Champion Allison, Ari Cogdell, Kahmari Montgomery and Will London clocked a world leading 3min 02.39sec to clinch their country’s 11th gold medal of the competition, earning them an eighth straight title in the race in the process.
The Botswana team, made up of Omphemetse Poo, Baboloki Thebe, Karabo Sibanda and Xholani Talane, did enough for silver, while bronze went to Jamaica, comprised of Anthony Carpenter, Sean Bailey, Terry Ricardo Thomas and Christoper Taylor.
The triumph for the men came after Lynna Irby, Anna Cockrell, Karrington Winters and Samantha Watson had delivered another gold medal for the US in the women’s 4x400m relay.
Following a tense battle with Jamaica, the team eventually crossed the line in a combined 3:29.11, with the Caribbean nation having to settle for silver ahead of bronze medallists Canada.
Reigning European Under-20 champion Elvira Herman of Belarus stole the show in the 100m hurdles with a championship record time of 12.85sec to add the world title to her continental crown.
In what proved to be a tight finish, the top four were separated by 0.08 seconds, with Jamaica’s Rushelle Burton edging Tia Jones of the US for silver.
There was also drama in the men’s 3,000m steeplechase as Ethiopia’s Getnet Wale recovered from two falls to seal bronze in a thrilling race won by Kenya’s Amos Kirui.
The Kenyan athlete took the tape in 8:20.43, while Eritrea’s Yemane Haileselassie found an extra gear late on to claim silver as Wale held off the challenge of Kirui’s compatriot Vincent Kipyegon Ruto in the battle for third place.
Kipyegon Bett added to the Kenyan haul as he led home a one-two for the African nation on his way to securing the gold medal in the men’s 800m.
Bett accelerated off the final bend to take victory in 1:44.95, with Willy Tarbei second and Morocco’s Mostafa Smaili earning a rare bronze for his country by finishing third.
“I lost to Willy last year but this time I expected to win after I finished first at the Kenyan Trials this year,” Bett said.
“My only problem was the finishing kick, and I worked hard on that this year.”
Ethiopia clinched gold and silver in the women’s 1500m as Adanech Anbesa led the field home in 4:08.07 ahead of Fantu Worku and Christina Aragon of the US, who were second and third respectively.
By Liam Morgan
Republished with permission from insidethegames.biz