Robinson mines gold

McLaughlin...won bronze

Raymond Graham, Freelance Writer

DEBRECEN, HUNGARY

THE National flag flew high in Hungary yesterday as there was great jubilation in the Jamaica camp following action on day three of the World Youth Track and Field Championships.

Camille Robinson, a 17-year-old student of Christiana Comprehensive High, struck gold in the 400 metres hurdles final while the country picked up two bronze medals through Aneisha McLaughlin and Jermaine Gonzales.

Robinson, out of Chudleigh in Manchester, won in a world youth leading time and a career best 58.72 seconds.

Running a perfect race, Robinson followed the instructions of coach Mark Prince and led from start to finish to dismantle the field to become Jamaica's second individual gold medal winner at these Championships. Two years ago Veronica Campbell won gold in the 100 metres in Poland.

Yesterday before the athletes reached the sixth hurdle the fight was only for the minor medals as Robinson was fully in control of the race. Kimberly Crow of Austraila with a personal record of 59.28 seconds took the silver while bronze went to Olga Nikolayeva of Russia in 59.41 seconds.

An elated Robinson paid tribute to her high school coach and parents. "I would like to thank coach Jerry Holness and my mother Lysette Bailey for their continuous support and motivation over the years," said Robinson.

She also paid tribute to new JAAA President, Patrick Anderson and his Club, Wyndalco for their support over the years.

The performance of Robinson lifted the Jamaicans later in the evening as following Kerron Stewart's silver on the previous day, McLaughlin and Gonzales added to the tally after getting third place in their 400 metres events.

In a day of high quality performances all round, young McLaughlin out of Holmwood Technical, showing great guts and determination while running out of lane eight with a sprained left ankle, held on for the bronze in 53.35 seconds. Here it was gold and silver for the United States as Stephanie Smith produced a magnificent run for a new Championship record of 52.19 seconds beating the old mark of 52.28 seconds set by another American, Monique Henderson, two years ago in Poland.

In the boys event, Gonzales continued his impressive form as he lowered his personal record in capturing the bronze medal. In his debut for Jamaica, the Taicus Golding Comprehensive High student ran a courageous race for a career best 47.51 seconds. His teammate, Kimani Williams of Kingston College, failed to finish as he fell to the ground after fifty metres with a torn hamstring muscle.

This event was also won in a new championship record as Polish athletes took the top two places. Karrol Grzegorczyk won gold in a new record of 46.90 seconds, breaking the old mark of 46.94 seconds.

Yesterday also saw the heats and semifinals of the 200 metres.

Although the Jamaicans gave a good account of themselves only one athlete advanced to today's final. Following his disappointment on day one in the Boys 100 metres, St. George's College's Tesfa Latty produced a career-best run of 21.49 seconds in his semifinal to advance.

Usain Bolt also did a personal best time, 21.73, but finished fifth in his semi final and failed to advance. Earlier in the heats, Trinidad and Tobago's 100 metres winner Darrel Brown failed to finish his event as he pulled up lame after running the first 80 metres with a slight hamstring pull.

There was also no luck for Vere Technical's Simone Facey as she failed by one hundredth of a second to reach the girls 200 metres final as she finished third in her semifinal in 24.48 seconds. Teammate Tracy Ann Rowe also finished third in 24.84 seconds and failed to advance.

Jamaica also advanced to the finals of both Medley Relays following wins in their heats yesterday.

In the girls event, the quartet of Keisha Brown, Tracy Ann Rowe, Kerron Stewart and Kashain Page won in 2.11.05 seconds to be the fourth fastest qualifiers. The team will be strengthened today with the expected inclusion of McLaughlin and Facey .

In the boys event the foursome of Latty, Andre Maxwell, Bolt and Williams won their heat in 1.56.37 seconds. With the injury to Williams, Gonzales is expected to strengthen the team for today's final

Jamaica will be hoping to add to their tally today as Camille's twin sister Carlene will run in the 800 metres final and Shaunette Davidson in the high jump.

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