Photos by Anthony Foster
LEFT: Jamaica's Misha-Gaye DaCosta pose with her silver medal and other prizes after placing second with a personal best 1.84m performance in the girls' high jump at the IAAF World Youth Championships in Ostrava, Czech Republic, yesterday.
RIGHT: Yuliya Baraley of the Ukraine crosses the finish line to win the girls' 400m final in 53.57 seconds ahead of Jamaica's Latoya McDermott, during the IAAF World Youth Championships at the Ostrava City stadium, Czech Republic, yesterday. McDermott finished second in 54.12 seconds.

Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

Ostrava, Czech Republic:

Impressive displays by Latoya McDermott and Misha-Gaye DaCosta secured two silver medals for Jamaica on yesterday's third day of the fifth IAAF World Youth Championships inside Ostrava City's stadium.

Adding to Dexter Lee's 10.50 seconds 100m gold medal run and Nickel Ashmeade's 10.54 for silver, McDermott and DaCosta won silver in the 400m and high jump respectively.

Already, Jamaica with one gold and three silver medals, surpassed its performance at the last Championship where they won one silver and two bronze medals.

In the girls' 400m final McDermott, with an impressive run, stopped the clock in 54.12 seconds to pocket silver - the country's best ever finish in the event.

Anneisha McLaughlin finished third to win bronze in 2001.

Yuliya Baraley of Ukraine won the event in 53.57 seconds.

McDermott, who had signalled her medal-winning intentions from the opening round through to the semis, was a little surprised.

Never expected to win

"Going into the final I had the eighth fastest time in the world and I never expected to win a medal.

My aim was to win a medal, but I knew it would have been hard.

"I just went out there, put God first and did everything I could and it worked," continued the World Youth silver medallist, who has been fighting off gastric problems since arriving in Ostrava. "It's a very good feeling," a delighted McDermott added.

Explaining her tactics, she said: "I did not run my race at some point in time, but coming into the straight I had to push myself because I was a little (way) back."

Commenting on why she had to change her race plan, McDermott, explained: "The Ukrainian was running pretty fast and I did not want her to get away too far, so I had to stay with her."

In the high jump DaCosta gave Jamaica its first medal in this event at a global meet.

Disappointment

DaCosta, who left on Thursday's second day disappointed with her 1.74m first round performance, returned a personal best 1.84 metres for the silver, which made her smile for the first time.

Natalya Mamlina of Russia won the event with a world leading leap of 1.89m.

"After failing to clear 1.81m on the first attempt I was like, ohhh!, my God, I am going to lose because there were other people jumping higher than me and I did not feel so well at that point.In the girls 400m hurdles final, Shana-Gaye Tracey did her best, but it was only good enough for fourth, finishing in a personal best 57.74 seconds behind American Dalilah Muhammad (57.25), Romania's Andreea Ionescu (57.33) and Ryann Krais (57.50).

Tracey, however, was pleased.

Satisfied

"I am satisfied because it's the last race for the season and knowing that I came out and did my best I am very proud of myself, despite the fact that I did not get a medal," she said.

"I am a bit disappointed about that (not winning a medal) yes, but overall I am glad that I came were and did my best," she added.

Tarik Batchelor, who entered the long jump final with the best jump of 7.43m in Thursday's preliminary round, could only manage 7.09m for seventh in the event won by Yasumichi Konishi of Japan (7.52m).

Meanwhile, Ramone McKenzie, the favourite for the 200m title, and Nickel Ashmeade will contest the sem-finals of the boys 200m event. McKenzie advanced with 21.99 seconds, while Ashmeade will enter with 21.80.

Jura Levy is also in the girls 200m event, this after qualifying from round one in a season best 24.88.

Natoya Goule (2:10.25) and Dwayne Extol (53.45) qualified for the semi-finals of the girls 800m and boys 400m hurdles as the slowest losers.