Hurdler Hill set to win gold at World U20

Jamaica’s Kerrica Hill, the defending champion in the women’s 100 metres hurdles, displayed impressive form at the World Under-20 Championships in Lima, Peru, yesterday and appears set to add another gold medal to the country’s tally today.

Hill was the most impressive qualifier from the semi-finals as the world number one won her semi-final in 13.00 seconds, the fastest time ahead of today’s final scheduled for 5:05 p.m. The next best time is 13.24 by Mia Wild of Croatia.

There was no luck for Hill’s teammate, Habibah Harris, who was third in her semi-final in 13.64 (11th overall) and failed to advance to the final.

Jamaica will also have one finalist in the men’s 110m hurdles final scheduled for 5:25 p.m. Richard Hall was second in his semi-final in 13. 44 and fifth overall going into the final. He finished behind American Ja’Kobe Tharp, who clocked a world under-20 leading time and Area record 13.11.

Daniel Beckford, the other Jamaican in the semi-finals, could only manage sixth in 13.80, which was 15th overall.

Shanoya Douglas was the third Jamaican to book a spot in today’s finals. She will do so in the women’s 200m, which is slated for 6:35 p.m.

Douglas, the world leader in the event, had to settle for second in her semi -final in 23.51, behind winner Torrie Lewis of Australia, who clocked 23.27. Douglas is the fifth-fastest qualifier going into the final.

Sabrina Dockery just missed out on the final as she took fourth in her semi-final in 23.75 as the race was won by 100m silver medallist Adaejah Hodge of the British Virgin Island in 23.19. Dockery had the ninth fastest time overall.

There will be no Jamaicans in the men’s 200m final. Romario Hines, the only Jamaican male to advance from the preliminary round earlier in the day, finished fourth in his semi-final in 21.68, which was 18th overall.

High jumper Shaniqua Williams failed to advance after finishing eighth in her group after clearing a height of 1.77m. She was 21st overall.

Yesterday Chavez Penn placed 11th in the triple jump final with a best of 14.71m. Ethan Olivier of New Zealand won gold with 17.01m

Shaiquan Dunn and Chad Hendricks will be hoping to advance in the men’s discus when they compete in preliminary-round action in the first session today. Hendricks will compete in Group A at 11:15 a.m., and Dunn, the world leader, will compete in Group B at 1:05 p. m.

There will also be preliminary-round action in both the 4x100m and 4x400m relays in the first session. The women will contest the 4x400m event at 11:30 a.m. while the men will be in action at noon.

For the 4x100m, the women will be in action at 12:35 p.m. while the men’s event begins at 1:05 p.m.

Three Jamaicans will be seeking final berths in the 400m hurdles when semi-final action takes place in the second session. Kelly Ann Carr will take the track in the women’s 400m hurdles event at 3:51 p.m. where she will run out of lane five in heat three.

Trevoy Smith will run in heat two of the men’s semi-finals a 4:13 p.m., and Daniel Wright will run in semi-final three at 4:23 p.m.