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Jodie Williams was beaten for the 200m title by the USA’s Stormy Kendrick at the World Junior Championships
© Mark Shearman
JODIE WILLIAMS had to settle for the silver medal in the final of the 200m at the World Junior Championships in Moncton.
The double world youth champion led the world junior rankings prior to the event but the final was Williams’ sixth race within four days and she was unable to produce her best form.
Williams finished second to the USA’s Stormy Kendrick, who stormed to the title with a PB of 22.99 to Williams’ 23.19. Jamile Samuel from the Netherlands took her second bronze medal with 23.27.
“I had 12 hours sleep last night because I was absolutely shattered after the 100m,” said Williams.
“Six races in four days is an awful lot and not having enough sleep the night before last wasn’t good, but I’m happy to be a medallist today. Stormy ran really well and I just couldn’t catch her. I think the expectation was way too much, but I did all I could.”
This was also Williams’ first defeat in 151 races.
About her winning streak, Williams admitted: “It’s been a long time. I knew it would come to an end one day and that’s it, it’s come to an end tonight.”
Emily Diamond set a PB in the semi-finals and finished sixth in the final in 23.65.
“My legs died after the bend – I tried to get my legs to go fast but they just wouldn’t listen to me, but I’m happy, sixth is good, better than expected.”
In the 400m hurdles, Jack Green improved his lifetime best to 50.49 to finish a creditable fifth in the final, in a race won by Jehue Gordon from Trinidad & Tobago in 49.30.
Both 4x100m teams qualified for their respective finals. The women’s quartet were the third fastest with 44.62, while the men’s team qualified as fastest losers.
Daniel Pembroke finished 11th in the javelin with 68.12m.
From the morning session Laura Weightman qualified for the 1500m final by right, finishing third in the final heat with 4:17.11.
Lawrence Okoye also progressed to the discus final with 59.56m but his opening round throw of 57.24m would have also sufficed.
Good news for the British team continued in the pole vault as Sally Scott and Holly Bleasdale comfortably progressed from the qualifying round.
World youth silver medallist Jack Meredith won the third heat of the 110m hurdles of 13.77 to make the semi-finals.
Adam Cotton and Niall Brooks also progressed from the heats of the 800m.
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