TT end Youth Championship without medalSource: newsday.co.tt

JEREEM RICHARDS was the final Trinidad and Tobago athlete to be eliminated from the World Youth Championships yesterday as Trinidad and Tobago ended their campaign without a medal.

Richards, competing in the Boys 200m semi-finals, ran a personal best time in heat two but his time was only good enough for third place. Richards stopped the clock at 21.47 seconds behind winner Aldrich Bailey of the US who timed 21.29 in a new personal best. Australian Hugh Donovan ran a season best in finishing second, crossing the line in 21.46.

Earlier, Richards started well in his preliminary heat in a promising performance.

Richards won the race easily, cruising to the line in 21.85 seconds to book his place in the next round. Coming in second was Japanese Tatsuro Suwa who clocked 21.94 while Luka Zontar of Slovenia was third in 22.43.

Also on Friday, Machel Cedenio agonisingly missed out on a medal, placing fourth in the Boys 400m final.

The double CARIFTA gold medallist, TT’s number one medal hope going into the tournament, ran a new personal best time but still could not crack the top three. Cedenio crossed the finish line in 46.89 seconds behind Patryk Dobek of Poland who took the bronze in 46.67.

Arman Hall of the USA set a new World Youth leading time of 46.01 to win the gold medal ahead of Kenyan Alphas Leken Kishoyian who was second in 46.58.

Meanwhile, TT’s Ruebin Walters failed to advance to the Boys 110m hurdles final despite clocking a new personal best in heat two of the ‘semis’.

Walters stopped the clock at 14.01 seconds to finish fourth which was not good enough to progress.

The heat was won by France’s Wilhem Belocian who powered past the line in 13.66.

Following closely was Joshua Hawkins of New Zealand in 13.77. Thomas Durant of Belgium placed third (13.90).

Shaunna Downey had a disappointing outing in the Girls discus throw qualifying round, placing last in her group. Downey could only manage to produce an effort of 35.59m which was only good enough for 17th place. Shelbi Vaughan of the USA won the group with a stunning personal best of 53.78m.