8th IAAF World Youth Championships Update: Day 3

History has been made as Team Bahamas competed at the WYC today, Day 3 of competition.

From left to right: Denzel Pratt, Kawain Culmer, & Xavier Coakley. Photo Courtesy Kermit Taylor/ Bahamas Athletics

Throws

Coached by women's national record holder, Lavern Eve, Denzel Pratt made history as he is the first Bahamian male to advance to a finals at the World Youth Games in a throwing event. En route of this accomplishment, Denzel threw a personal best of 70.88m. This was good enough for him to go into the finals ranked 10th of the finalist who advanced. He also set a NEW JUNIOR NATIONAL RECORD, breaking Kevin Smith's record of 69.94m set back in 1989.

Hurdles

Xavier Coakley was not far off from his PR as he finished his semifinal in the boys 110m hurdles. He was 6th in semifinal 3 with a time of 13.93 seconds. That was just enough for him to finish 16th overall, had he ran his personal best as he did at the junior trials in Nassau, he would've advanced to the finals. Nonetheless, he had a great competition in both the 400m and 110m hurdle races.

Jumps

St. Augustine's athlete Kawain Culmer had the triple jump qualification rounds today. Culmer is the younger brother of the women's national record holder in the high jump, Kenya Culmer. Kawain was able to get a personal best of 14.96m to finish 9th in of qualification Group B, and 14th overall. This means he was just two spot shy of being another Bahamian to advance to a finals at the Games.

Sprints

Jenae Ambrose. Photo Courtesy Kermit Taylor/ Bahamas Athletics

The 200m for girls saw Loushanya Neymour and Jenae Ambrose in action. Jenae went in heat 7 and finished 3rd in a time of 24.40 seconds. This time was good enough for her to advance to tomorrow's semifinals. 

Loushanya Neymour. Photo Courtesy Kermit Taylor/Bahamas Athletics

Loushanya's time of 25.08 seconds was only good enough for 5th in heat 3, and does not advance her to the next round of competition. 

On the boys side of the 200m, both Bahamian competitors advance to the semifinals. Ian Kerr was first up for the young men, and finished 2nd in heat 3 with a time of 21.68 seconds. Second competitor Janeko Cartwright won heat 6 in a time of 21.57 seconds. These athletes are ranked 8th and 14th heading into the next round, out of 24 athletes.

Ian Kerr. Photo Courtesy Kermit Taylor/ Bahamas Athletics

Janeko Cartwright. Photo Courtesy Kermit Taylor/ Bahamas Athletics

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