by Clayton Clarke

BYDGOSZCZ, Poland:(Friday, July, 22): Jenae Ambrose booked a spot in the women’s 200m finals at the 16th IAAF World Under 20 Track and Field Championships at the Zawisza Stadium earlier today (Friday).
    Ambrose won heat two of semi-finals in 23.44/1.0 finishing strongly to pip Evelyn Rivera of Colombia by 0.01 seconds for the top spot. The nine-time Carifta medallist was 0.01 seconds off her personal best and was third quickest at the semi-finals round behind heat three winner Edidiong Ofonime Odiong (Bahrain) 23.19 and Sada Williams (Barbados) who captured heat one in 23.35. Ambrose is now the fifth Bahamian sprint queen to qualify for the medal round in the half lap event at the World Junior level following in the footsteps of Antonique Strachan (2012), Sheniqua Ferguson (2008, 2006), Debbie Ferguson (1994) and Chandra Sturrup (1990).

In the women’s 200m final,s set for 12:20pm (Eastern Caribbean time/6:20pm Poland time) on Saturday, Ambrose will start in lane four and will be seeking to become the third Bahamian to win the title behind Strachan (2012) and Sheniquia Ferguson (2008). The University of Auburn student will have her main rivals Odiong (lane 5) and Williams (lane 6) on her outside. American Taylor Bennett (lane 3) and Finette Agyapong of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (lane 2) are on her inside.  Rivera (Lane 7), Ashlan Best of Canada (lane 8) and France’s Estelle Raffai (lane 9) are also in the finals.

Speaking after her semifinal win Ambrose said her aim was to secure a lane in the finals. “I went out hard and tried to stay strong on the straight away and qualify (for the finals).” She added that she was looking to run quicker. “I was expecting a faster time (than 23.44) but that is okay.” Looking ahead to the finals, the 18 year old said she has to improve on her start. “I will have to work on my start, be quick out of the blocks and faster off the curve.”
    Ambrose is the lone Bahamian to qualify for a track final at this year’s edition of the World U20 Track and Field Championships and is the last athlete with a chance to win a medal.
    After four days of action, Serena Brown remains the top performer for Team Bahamas with her fourth place finish in the women’s discus finals on Thursday (July 21). Brown broke the national junior and senior record in become to highest ever Bahamian female field event competitor at the World U20 level.
    Bahamas is represented by thirteen athletes. The Championships began on Tuesday (July 19) and comes to an end on Sunday (July 24).

RESULTS
Day Four (July 22)

Afternoon
12:20pm/6:20pm: W 200m-SEMI-FINALS
(First two and next two fastest on time advance to the finals)
Heat 1 (Wind: +0.1m/s): 1st Sada Williams (BAR) 23.35Q, 2nd Ashlan Best (CAN) 23.66Q, 3rd Tasa Jiya (NED) 23.72

Heat 2 (+1.0):1STJENAE AMBROSE (BAHAMAS)  23.44Q, 2nd Evelyn Rivera (COL) 23.45Q, 3rd Basriah Sharifa Nasir (BRN) 23.77, 4th Shanice Reid (JAM) 23.85, 5th Charlotte McLennaghan (GBR) 23.87, 6th Carina Polzl (AUT) 23.96, 7th Maddison Coates (AUS) 23.96, 8th Andrea Bouma (NED) 24.19

Heat 3 (+0.6):1st Edidiong Ofonime Odiong (BRN) 23.19Q, 2nd Estelle Raffai (FRA) 23.46Q, 3rd Taylor Bennett (USA) 23.49q, 4th  Finette Agyapong (GBR) 23.64q

SCHEDULE
Day Five (July 23)
12:20pm/6:20pm: W 200m-FINALS
Lane 2-Finette Agyapong (GBR)
Lane 3-Taylor Bennett (USA)
Lane 4-JENAE AMBROSE (BAHAMAS)
Lane 5-Edidiong Ofonime Odiong (BRN)
Lane 6-Sada Williams (BAR)
Lane 7-Evelyn Rivera (COL)
Lane 8-Ashlan Best (CAN)
Lane 9-Estelle Raffai (FRA)