by Clayton Clarke

BYDGOSZCZ, Poland:(Friday, July, 22): Jenae Ambrose advanced to the women’s 200m semifinals at the 16th IAAF World Under 20 Track and Field Championships at the Zawisza Stadium earlier today. Ambrose was an impressive winner of heat four in the preliminaries in the morning session in a time of 23.45 seconds. The 2016 Carifta Girls under 20 silver medallist was the third fastest overall behind Edidiong Ofonime Odiong of Bahrain (23.06) and Carifta champion and World leader Barbadian Sada Williams (23.38).
    Ambrose told Bahamas Athletics after the race that she felt she could run even faster in the next round. She added that she was focused on herself in her race and putting together a good run. Competing in her second World U20 meet, she was looking to redeem herself. “Last World Juniors (in Portland, USA in 2014), I didn’t get to run my event so I want to make up for it now.”
    The Auburn University student joins a long list of Bahamian ladies, ten in total, who have qualified for the semifinals and extended the streak of six straight World junior semifinal appearances by Bahamians in the event since 2006.  She will start in lane four of heat two at 3:00pm (Eastern Caribbean time)/9:00am (Poland time) later today and will be looking to finish in the top two to be guaranteed a lane in the finals set for Saturday (12:20pm/6:20pm). The nine-time Carifta medallist will be hoping to advance to the medal round as compatriots Anthonique Strachan (2012), Shequania Ferguson (2006/2008), Debbie Ferguson (1994), Chandra Sturrup (1990) did at past editions of the meet. Fifteen year old Devin Parker did not start in her heat. Reports reaching Bahamas Athletics is that she is still battling with a tender leg muscle which ruled her out of the 100m event as well.
    Sasha Wells and Charisma Taylor failed in their quest to reach the women’s 100m hurdles semis as both were eliminated in the heats as they finished outside of the automatic qualify top three placings. Wells was fourth in heat four in 14.12, well off her personal best of 13.86.  Taylor limbered home in seventh in heat five in 14.94. She complained of a sore hamstring before the start of the race but competed nonetheless.  With their times they were hoping to advance one of six time qualifiers; however, when they were done, they finished in the field with Wells 16th quickest and Taylor 24th fastest.
    After three days of the meet, Serena Brown is the top performer for the 13-member Bahamian team after her fourth place finish in the women’s discus finals on Thursday. Brown set a new national junior and senior record of 52.73m.  The Championships continue until Sunday (July 24).

Day Four (July 22)
RESULTS
Morning
Women’s 200m-Heats (First four and next four fastest on time advance to the semifinals)
Heat Four: 1st Jenae Ambrose 23.45
Heat Three: did not start Devine Parker
Women’s 100m hurdles heats (First three and next six fastest on time advance to the semifinals)
Heat One: 4th Sasha Wells 14.12
Heat Five: 7th Charisma Taylor 14.94

SCHEDULE
Afternoon
3:00pm/9:00pm:Women’s 200m Semifinals (First two and next two fastest on time advance to the finals)