Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller (second right) poses with members of the Jamaican World Junior team after their arrival at Norman Manley International Airport on Tuesday night. From right are gold medallists Caywane Jervis, Remaldo Rose, Kaliese Spencer, Yohan Blake and Winston Barnes. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

JAMAICA'S MEN'S 4x100 metres relay team won the country's second gold medal at the recently concluded World Junior Track and Field Championship in Beijing, China.

Kaliese Spencer won the first gold medal in the 400m hurdles. The quartet of Winston Barnes, Remaldo Rose, Cawayne Jervis and 100m bronze medallist Yohan Blake, set a new national junior record of 39.05 seconds.

The 2006 world leading time erased the previous national record of 39.15 set by the quartet of Winston Hutton, Orion Nicely, Yhann Plummer and Usain Bolt at the World Junior Championships in Kingston, four years ago.

The young men were elated with their performances, this after entering the final with a then world leading 39.18, which had made them the favourites. The United States finished second in a season best 39.21 with Great Britain third, also in a season best 39.24.

Blake said they combined very well.

"Winston Barnes is a power starter, Rose ran the backstretch superbly, Jervis the corner; I could not ask for more, and getting the baton in first place, I just demolished the field," he said.

Good feeling

Rose said it was always a good feeling to beat the U.S.A. and he gave 110 per cent to make sure that happened while Barnes and Jervis said their job was to get the baton to the fastest men.

With this outstanding performance, The Gleaner has awarded the team 'Performers of the Week'.

- Robert Bailey