Machel Cedenio, Ruebin Walters and Lisa Wickham progressed to the semifinals of their events on the opening day of the Ninth IAAF World Junior (Under 20) Track and Field Championships in Barcelona, Spain, yesterday.  Cedenio topped his heat in the men’s 400m preliminaries clocking 46.58 to take heat two. The CAC junior champion got to the line ahead of O’Jay Ferguson (Bahamas) 46.69. The two automatically qualified for today’s semifinals 8 pm (Barcelona time)/2 pm (TT time).  The pair clashed at the Carifta Games in Bermuda in April in the boys’ Under-20 400 finals where Ferguson took the gold ahead of Cedenio. Asa Guevara was bowled out in heat seven finishing down the field in sixth in 47.93. Cedenio was the 12th quickest and Guevara was the 34th fastest with the top 24 advancing. The race favourite, Luguelin Santos of the Dominican Republic, was the eighth fastest (46.34) as World Youth champion, Arman Hall (USA), was the top finisher (46.13).

In today’s semis Cedenio will match strides with Hall and Ferguson in heat two and will be looking to be finish in the top two to be guaranteed a lane in tomorrow’s finals.  Guyana’s Stephan James is also in the same heat. Walters qualified for the men’s 110m Hurdles semifinals after placing third in heat one in the prelims.  The Memphis athlete clocked a personal best of 13.92 running into a 2.2 m/s head wind but had to wait until the completion of all eight heats to know his fate. The CAC Junior Under-18 gold medallist was the 19th fastest and was among the eight qualifiers for today’s semis carded for 6.30 pm/12.30 pm. Walters is listed in heat three and will be gunning for a top two spot to be assured of a place in tomorrow’s championships race. Speaking after his run yesterday, Walters said his goal was to advance to the semifinals. “At the semis anything is possible. Once I get to the finals I am hoping to medal.” He added that as a Under-18 youth competing among the juniors (Under-20), he is feeling confident and thanked his parents, friends and coach, Dr Ian Hypolite, for their continued support.

Lisa Wickham was the only local sprinter to survive the opening rounds of the 100m. Wickham finished fourth in the seventh and final heat in 11.98, behind Carifta and Pan American Junior champion, Anthonique Strachan of the Bahamas (11.59), Guyana’s Kadecia Baird (11.72) and Rachel Johncock (Great Britain 11.75.  The Concorde/St Francois Girls’ lass  advanced to today’s semis as the eighth and final qualifier based on times.  Aaliyah Telesford bowed out as she finished fifth in heat two in a slow time of 12.05, well off her best of 11.70 and was 27th overall. In the men’s  100m prelims Jonathan Holder (Concorde/QRC) was fourth in heat six in 10.73, while Ashron Sobers (Zenith/Signal Hill Sec) was fifth in heat four in 10.84. They had an agonising wait to know if they would advance on times as only two in each heat were sure to go through. But Holder was the 32nd fastest and Sobers 42nd and only the top 24 advanced.  Adams Gemili (Great Britain) and Tyreek Hill (USA) were the top qualifiers, both clocking 10.37. Also in action today are Hezekeil Romeo and Brandon Benjamin. Romeo will take the field in the men’s shot put qualifying round. The Memphis/St Anthony’s athlete is listed to compete in Group “A” at 9.10am/3.10am and will be looking to achieve 19.30m or finish in the top 12 to qualify for the finals set for 7.05pm/1.05pm later today.  The 2011 World Youth finalist may have to improve his pb of 18.59m to get into the medal round. Benjamin (Memphis/St Augustine Sec) will do battle in the men’s 400m hurdles heat two prelims.

-Clayton Clarke

Source: www.guardian.co.tt