Anthony Foster, Freelance writer

Jamaica's Kaliese Spencer (left) and Sherene Pinnock pose with their gold and bronze medals after the women's 400m hurdles final on yesterday's third day of the 11th IAAF World Junior Track & Field Cham- pionships at the Chaoyang Sport Centre in Beijing, China. Spencer won in a national junior record and world junior leading 55.11, while Pinnock secured bronze in a personal best 56.67 seconds. - Photo by Anthony Foster

BEIJING, China:

LED BY Kaliese Spencer's gold, Jamaica picked up three medals on yesterday's third day of the 11th IAAF World Junior Track and Field Championships here at the Chaoyang Sport Centre.

Spencer secured Jamaica's first 400m hurdles gold at this level while Sonita Sutherland and Sherene Pinnock repeated silver and bronze medal performances from Grosseto, Italy, respectively.

After three days of competition, Jamaica have five medals - one gold, one silver, and three bronze. At the last Championships in Grosseto in 2004, Jamaica won nine medals, while the country's best total was 12 from Kingston 2002.

While Spencer's 55.11 seconds run was a national junior record she, like quarter miler Sutherland, who secured silver in 51.42 seconds, was not overly happy with her performance.

National record

"I am really happy (for national record), but I really wanted the World junior record, but I am very, very grateful though," Spencer said.

The 19-year-old student at The University of Technology (UTech) erased her own mark of 55.61, which was achieved on June 11 in Gateshead, England.

In racing to the world's leading junior mark, Spencer, who had pre-race favourite and American Nicole Leach covered from the first 150m, kept her form for a decisive win.

"I just got out and ran my first 200m hard and I just came out victorious, so I am very happy," she said.

Spencer also admitted she was a bit worried about Leach but "I just went out there, kept confident and did my best".

Leach, who entered the event as the world leader, finished second in 55.55 and she expressed shock at the defeat.

"I'm disappointed. I was the world leader. I planned to take the race; I just needed to execute the plan. I struggled with my stride pattern," Leach said.

Sutherland, who finished second behind Danijela Grgic of Croatia (50.78, WJL) said, "I am not disappointed, but I know I could have gone faster".

Puzzled

"I don't know what happened," added Sutherland, who went out hard and weakened in the last 60m.

On the other hand, Pinnock was pleased with her personal best of 56.67 for bronze in the 400m hurdles.

"I am very grateful," she said. "I must say thanks to my coach who has been there for me throughout the entire year. Thanks to Ms. Clarke and Mr. Douglas for their motivation, to everybody who has been there for me, and most of all, thanks to Almighty God who has given me the strength to be at a next World Junior Championships and to win a medal again.

"It wasn't difficult after going through the rounds and reaching the final. I decided that I have to do it because it is my last junior year."

In the men's 400m final, Edino Steele (46.42) and Allodin Fother-gill (46.68 ) finished fifth and sixth respectively. Trinidad and Tobago's Renny Quow won the event in a personal best 45.74, and he was surprised.

Surprised, shocked

"I am surprised, I am shocked, but everything happens for a reason ... I think I deserved it," he said.

"I have been training and, as my coach said, hard work brings success," added Quow, who received a lot of help from Dr. Paul Auden before the final.

Meanwhile, only one Jamaican, Anastasia Le-Roy made it to the medal race of the 200m. Le-Roy will enter today's final with the fastest time, 23.57 seconds.

Naffene Briscoe (24.53) and Tristan Taylor (21.86) made early exits in the preliminary rounds.

Natasha Ruddock (13.73) and Kettiany Clarke (13.58) booked their places in today's 100m hurdles semi-finals. The final is also set for today where more medals for Jamaica are expected.