Mizgin Ay after winning the girls' 100m at the IAAF World U18 Championships Nairobi 2017 (© Getty Images)
Sprinters Mizgin Ay of Turkey and Magdalena Stefanowicz of Poland stunned the favourites on Thursday night (13), with Ay coming out on top after a spectacular finish in the girls' 100m final in the last track event on day two of the IAAF World U18 Championships Nairobi 2017.
Ay managed to edge out Stefanowicz by the narrowest of margins to take gold. Both athletes were credited with the same time of 11.62, with Stefanowicz improving her personal best by 0.07 to pocket the silver medal.
“I am very happy to win this gold medal for my country,” said Ay, who had clocked a personal best of 11.57 in the semifinals.
"I thank my coach very much for his guidance. I am now motivated to train harder and win many medals."
Jamaica's Kevona Davis, the world U18 leader this year who set the fastest time in the penultimate round (11.45), had to settle for the bronze medal in 11.67 in a blanket finish. She left the track on the stretcher after seemingly sustaining an injury in the final few strides of the race.
Lorraine Martins of Brazil, who boasted the second quickest career best in the line-up, missed out on a podium place. She ended fourth in 11.80.
The first five athletes in the 100m final, including Slovenia's Tami Scancar (11.91), will turn out again in the 200m heats on Friday morning.
Wesley Botton for the IAAF
