by Clayton Clarke

BYDGOSZCZ, Poland:(Saturday, July, 23): Jenae Ambrose was The Bahamas’ last hope for a medal at the 16th IAAF World Under 20 Track and Field Championships at the Zawisza Stadium. On the fifth day of action earlier today, Ambrose was aiming for a medal in the women’s 200m finals but came up short ending in fourth place in 23.53 seconds. The 18 year old was hoping to lift the spirit of her team but fell short. Her performance in the heats and semifinals suggested that she was a medal contender as she was third fastest in each round. However, a sluggish start and a slow bend left her out of medal contention on the homestretch.
She put in a strong performance to catch her rivals ahead of her. The nine-time Carifta medallist tried to out-dip Estelle Raffai of France for the bronze medal but was 0.05 seconds away from a medal. Edidiong Ofonime Odiong of Bahrain raced to gold in 22.84 ahead of Colombian Evelyn Rivera, 23.21 and  Raffai, 23.48. Barbadian Sada Williams did not finish as she pulled up with an injury.
Team Bahamas failed to win a medal for the second straight World Junior/U20 Championships.  Ambrose joined Serena Brown, who was fourth in the women’s discus finals, as the best performers of the 13 member team in Poland. With one day  of the six day meet remaining, Bahamas lies joint 34th on the point table with 10 points.

Bahamas last enjoyed success at the 2012 edition when Anthonique Strachan won the women’s 100m and 200m titles and Ryan Ingraham (men’s high jump) and Lathario Collie-Minns (men’s triple jump) copped bronze medals in what is the country’s best ever medal haul at the global junior/U20 meet.

Overall, The Bahamas has won nine medals (four gold and five silver) at the World Junior/U20 Championships since the first edition in 1986.

Details
GOLD-Anthonique Strachan-women’s 100m/200m (2012), Shaunae Miller-women’s 400m (2010), Shaniqua Ferguson-women’s 200m (2008),

BRONZE-Latorio Collie Minns-men’s triple jump (2012), Ryan Ingraham-men’s high jump (2012), Shaniqua Ferguson-women’s 100m (2008), Shamar Sands-men’s 110m hurdles (2002), Eugene Greene-men’s triple jump (1988)

DAY FIVE RESULTS

Day Five (July 23)
Women’s 200m finals (wind: +0.6): 1st Edidiong Ofonime Odiong (BRN) 22.84, 2nd Evelyn Rivera (COL) 23.21, 3rd Estelle Raffai (FRA) 23.48, 4th, JENAE AMBROSE (BAHAMAS), 5th Taylor Bennett (USA) 23.55, 6th Ashlan Best (CAN), 7th Finette Agyapong (GBR) 23.74, dnf Sada Williams (BAR)