Shanoya Douglas anchors Jamaica to victory in the 4x100m in Oregon (© Getty Images)
- Uță wins 400m hurdles as Ramokgopa completes hurdles silver double
- Mancha edges Stegall by 0.04 in dramatic 1500m finish
- Relay crowns go to Jamaica and USA
Romania’s Alexandra Ștefania Uță produced a lifetime best of 55.33 to win the women’s 400m hurdles on the fifth and final day of the World Athletics U20 Championships Oregon 26 on Sunday (9).
Uță finished more than half a second ahead of South Africa’s Tumi Ramokgopa, taking gold with a 0.22 improvement on the PB she set when winning the European U20 title last year.
“It is very special to me,” said Uță, who now moves to fourth on the European U20 all-time list, just 0.01 behind Femke Broeders-Bol. “Both me and my coach wanted this medal and it is great to represent my country in this event because it is very important to me. I wanted to continue the legacy of Ionela Târlea.”
While Uță took the title, Ramokgopa completed an impressive hurdles double. The South African had claimed silver in the 100m hurdles in 12.96 on Saturday and returned the following day to earn another silver, improving her 400m hurdles PB to 55.88.
“It is beyond special,” said Ramokgopa. “I was in disbelief coming into the home straight. I saw that I was in a medal position and knew I had to give it my all.”
Greece’s Eleni Iakovaki took bronze in a national U20 record of 55.99.
Mancha edges Stegall in dramatic 1500m finish
A slow and tactical start to the women’s 1500m eventually gave way to a thrilling finish, with Kenya’s Josephine Sembeyo Mancha edging USA’s Claire Stegall by just 0.04.
The opening lap took 78 seconds as no one appeared eager to take control, leaving the field tightly bunched. The race became increasingly chaotic, with a fall and a lost spike among the incidents in the pack.
When the pace finally increased, Mancha put herself in contention for gold, but Stegall was closing quickly in the final metres. The US athlete dived for the line, but Mancha held on to win in 4:16.73, with Stegall taking silver in 4:16.77.
Kenya’s Caren Chepchirchir earned bronze in 4:17.50, while Ethiopia’s Elsabet Amare finished fourth.
Douglas anchors Jamaica to 4x100m gold
The women’s 4x100m final began with drama when Nigeria was disqualified for a false start, but once the race got under way Jamaica and Switzerland produced a close battle for gold.
Jamaica led through the opening exchanges, but Switzerland moved narrowly ahead before the baton reached the anchor runners. Shanoya Douglas then delivered a 10.04 final leg to take Jamaica clear and secure gold in a world U20-leading 42.89.
“It has been a long year for all of the Jamaican team, so to win this medal is a great honour,” said Douglas, whose championships ended on a high after taking silver in the 100m and 200m.
Switzerland claimed silver in 43.36, while Belgium set a national U20 record of 43.91 to take bronze.
USA pulls clear for 4x400m gold
The USA and Australia were closely matched for much of the women’s 4x400m final before the defending champions pulled clear over the closing stages.
Ashtyn Lewis gave the USA an early advantage before Olivia Harris handed over just ahead of Australia. Clara Adams then strengthened the US position late on the third leg, leaving Taylor-Nicole Overton to finish the job.
Overton pulled away from Australia on the anchor leg, clocking 51.70 as the USA won in a world U20-leading 3:29.15.
Australia took silver in a season’s best of 3:31.39, while Great Britain and Northern Ireland earned bronze with a season’s best of 3:32.08.
Ash Wehrly for the World Athletics Media Academy
