- FILE
Latoya Greaves hugs Natasha Ruddock (back turned) after winning the 100m hurdles final June's National Junior and Senior Athletic Championshps at the National Stadium.
Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer
Sprint hurdlers Latoya Greaves and Natasha Ruddock yesterday opened Jamaica's medal count at the 2005 Pan American Junior Championships in Windsor, Canada with impressive performances.
Greaves, of The Queen's School, and Ruddock of St. Jago High won gold and silver respectively in the 100m hurdles, securing personal best times.
Heading into the Championships with a season best 13.60 and into the final with 13.54 seconds, Greaves, a finalist from the last Pan Am Champs, produced a career best 13.38 for gold.
Ruddock clocked 13.42, a personal best as a junior, improving on her 13.83 recorded in the semi-finals for third.
St. Jago coach, Raymond 'KC' Graham, was overjoyed with the 16-year-old's performance.
"This achievement is amazing," Graham said. "At age 16, Ruddock has two World Junior Championships left in her and is running 13.42, it's amazing."
"This is her third time over the height," Graham pointed out. "She is the real deal. She is Jamaica's most gifted hurdler."
The Jamaican duo defeated Genevieve Thibault of Canada, who was timed in 13.50 for the bronze.
"She is the best hurdler I have ever coached," added Graham, who has conditioned the likes of national representatives Andrea Bliss and Melaine Walker.
Sonita Sutherland (53.83) finished behind the United States Natasha Hastings (52.12) in the women's 400 metre semi-finals. Sutherland advanced as the third fastest qualifier to today's final whereas Anastasia Le-Roy (56.66) failed to advance.
Jason Edwards (48.66) and Leford Green (47.20 both advanced to the men's 400m final.
