Photo by Anthony Foster
Ramone McKenzie (left) allows himself a glance at his rivals as he cruises to victory in the first semi-final of the boys' 200m at the World Youth Championships in Ostrava yesterday. McKenzie clocked 21.14.

Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

OSTRAVA, Czech Republic:

WORLD LEADER and favourite Ramone Mc-Kenzie, 100m silver medallist Nickel Ashmeade and Shermaine Williams look set to lift Jamaica's position on the medal table at the fifth IAAF World Youth Championships.

On the warmest of the four days so far at 33 Celsius yesterday, Jamaica enjoyed mixed results.While McKenzie, Ashmeade and Williams, along with the boys' and girls' medley teams advanced, Natoya Goule (2:08.37 PR), Jura Levy (24.28 SB) and Dwayne Extol (52.92 PR) did their best but failed to progress to the 800m, 200m and 400m hurdles finals.After four days of intensive competition, Jamaica enter the final day with four medals, one gold (Dexter Lee - 100m), and three silver (Ashmeade - 100m; Latoya McDermott - 400m; Misha-Gaye DaCosta - high jump), which puts them seventh on the table. Kenya (5G, 3S, 1B), Russia (3G, 3S, 2S), the United States (3G, 2S, 3B), Ukraine (3G, 1B), Germany (2G, 2S. 3B) and Great Britain (2G, 1B) are ahead of Jamaica. McKenzie, who entered the Championships as the fastest youth over the 200m, easily won heat one of the semi-finals in 21.14, while Ashmeade took heat two in 21.08 seconds.

Looking ahead to the final, McKenzie said: "I am just going out there to do my best and to make Jamaica, my family and myself proud."

Aiming at Bolt's record

McKenzie's aim coming into the Championships was to break Usain Bolt's record of 20.25, and he was quick to point out it still was his plan.

"It is still a part of my plan, but I am having a little problem (asthma) right now, so I am not really sure," he said. "It (record) depends on how I feel tomorrow."

While saying the rounds were easy and that he fancied his chances in the final, McKenzie will not have things all his own way as Ashmeade, who enters the final with the fastest time, promised a good showdown.

"I am still hoping for another one-two because we know we can do it. Both of us are on top right now," he said, while pointing out that he will also be going for the win.

"The only pressure I can see is Ramone McKenzie right now ... and the final will be a very, very exciting one, so look out for it," Ashmeade said.

Williams was brilliant in the girls' 100m hurdles. She opened in the heats in the morning session with a personal best of 13.37, bettering her 13.53, and said she was looking forward to more good things in the final.

While saying she will be keeping an eye on American Jasmin Stowers, who finished second behind her in the semi-finals, Williams said, "a next PR and to medal would round off a good Championships for me".

The girls' medley team of Shavine Hodges, Levy, McDermott and Shana-Gaye Tracey ran a world-leading 2: 08.04, while the boys' quartet of Ashmeade, Dexter Lee, McKenzie and Dwayne Extol played around and was third in heat three in 1:52.43. They qualified as one of the fastest losers.