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OSTRAVA, Czech Republic - Wayne Davis, II (Raleigh, N.C.) set a World
Youth best of 13.18 in the 110 hurdles to capture Team USA's first gold
medal, and William Wynne (Kennesaw, Ga.) took silver at 13.44 Thursday
at the 5th IAAF World Youth Championships to lead a three-medal
performance on day two of the meet.
The youngest member of Team USA's boys' squad had a strong motivation to
do well - his father, Wayne Davis, Sr., promised to buy him a car if he
won. The 15-year-old added icing to the cake with his record, breaking
the old mark of 13.22 by Greece's Konstadinos Douvalidis in 2004.
"I was really hoping to get the record," Davis said. "That means my name
will be in the books for a while. As soon as I crossed the line I wanted
to see the time. My start was good as usual and I felt very relaxed, but
I expected William to be right there beside me."
Kenny Gilstrap (Lithonia, Ga.) kicked off the medal haul with a surprise
bronze in the 100 meters, clocking 10.61 behind the Jamaican pair of
Dexter Lee and Nickel Ashmeade. Gilstrap, who was added to the team
after Jeremy Rankin was injured, said, "All I did was focus on what I
needed to do. I didn't think I was supposed to be here, but this has
made it real for me."
An inspiring performance in the 1,000m wasn't quite enough to win a
medal for Curtis Beach (Albuquerque, N.M.), but the octathlete climbed
from sixth to fourth and had a personal best 6,170 points after a
2:35.57 to win the final event. Beach had personal-best performances in
the high jump (1.98 meters/6-6) and javelin (42.01m/137-10), but
faltered in the 110 hurdles after hitting a barrier hard and finished in
14.82, well off his best. Shane Braithwaite of Barbados won with 6,261
points.
"I had too many mental mistakes on the first day," Beach said. "I was
happy to get PR's in the shot, high jump and javelin, and I did all I
could in the 1,000. The top three guys were amazing, and now I have an
understanding of my place in the world of multis. When my throws improve
to equal my other events, I think I will be pretty unstoppable."
Ashton Purvis (Oakland, Calif.), who celebrated her 15th birthday today,
was seventh in the girls' 100 final at 12.04, after teammate Erica
Alexander (Friendswood, Texas) was disqualified for a false start.
Hammer thrower Connor McCullough was the brightest spot in the morning
session, launching a massive 75.98m/249-3 on his first attempt to lead
all qualifiers.
Dalilah Muhammad (Jamaica, N.Y.) and Ryann Krais (Eagleville, Pa.) were
impressive winners in the first round of the girls' 400 hurdles, with
Muhammad, the world youth leader in 2007, capturing heat two in 59.80
and Krais taking heat three in 58.67.
Team USA advanced runners to the final of the boys' 400 and girls' 400,
as Danzell Fortson (Fort Worth, Texas) was second in his semifinal in
47.70, and Meshawn Graham (Toledo, Ohio) took fourth in her semi at
54.96. Brianna Frazier (Jacksonville, Fla.) did not move on after a
55.66 in her section.
Dylan Ferris (Kernersville, N.C.) made it to the boys' 800 final,
running a gutsy 1:50.38 to place third in his semifinal and nab one of
the time qualifier spots. Ferris, who led through the first 200 in a
swift 25.44, said, "I was trying to get the lead and slow it down like
yesterday. I didn't want to miss out on the final and I kept telling
myself 'I gotta go'." Howard Shepard (Dallas, Texas) was seventh in his
semi at 1:54.42 and did not advance.
In the boys' long jump, Christian Taylor (Fayetteville, Ga.) had a
personal best of 7.27m/23-10.25, and Bryce Lamb (Chandler, Ariz.) had a
windy 7.18m/23-6.75, but neither athlete advanced to the final. Frankie
Hammond (Hollywood, Fla.) cleared 2.04m/6-8.25, but also failed to
advance.
Competition resumes Friday at 10 a.m. with qualifying in the girls'
hammer and the heptathlon 100 hurdles. For more information on Team USA
at the World Youth Championships, including links to full results, visit USATF.org.
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