Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

BOBBY-GAYE Wilkins won gold for Jamaica on yesterday's second day of the Pan American Junior Championships in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Wilkins, a fifth-form student at Holmwood Technical High, secured the gold in the 400 metres in an impressive 51.72 seconds - a meet record. She also bettered her personal best of 52.03.

The 18-year-old Wilkins, who became the first athlete to run under 52 seconds and the fourth Jamaican behind Andrea Thomas (1984), Sandie Richards (1986) and Claudine Williams (1993, 1995) towin the girls' one-lap event at the Championships, beat the previous record of 52.01, which Williams ran to win in 1993.

Wilkins' coach, Maurice Wilson, was elated.

"Excellent performance," was how he described the win.

"We have been trying all season to get them (his athletes) to perform better at the end of the year," he said. "If she did not pick up a hamstring strain earlier this season, we would have run faster," he said of Wilkins, who defeated Jenna Martin of Canada (51.91) and American Jessica Beard (51.91) in the fastest ever final at the meet.

Yohan Blake won Jamaica's second medal of the day - a silver in the boys' 100m final in 10.34.

Trinidad & Tobago's Keston Bledman (10.32) took the event.