Kenya ends 'Sudtirol 2009' WYC on high, tops medals table
The 6th IAAF World Youth Championships 'Sudtirol 2009' is over.
The last two competition days in Bressanone/Brixen were dominated by Kenya taking the lead in the medal count ahead of the USA.
The medley relay team from the United States sets the WYC's second WYB. Kirani James (Grenada) and Jodie Williams (GBR) won their second WYC gold medals tonight.
Girls: 800m
The last day of the WYC was dominated by Cherono Koech in the 800m. She set a new Championship Record and WYL with a winning time of 2:01.67. Ciara Mageean (2:03.07) won the second WYC medal ever for Ireland. Bronze went to Rowena Cole (2:03.83) from Rumania.
Girls: 200m
Jodie Williams (GBR) and Allison Peter (US Virgin Islands) both clocked a WYL time of 23.08 and subsequent analysis revealed Williams as the winner.
The 15-year-old is this WYC's first two-time World Champion in Bressanone/Brixen. Peter won her second silver medal. Bronze went to Ashton Purvis (USA) with 23.15. Thus the winning podium was identical in the 100m and the 200m.
Boys: 3000m
Double win for a superior Kenya: Isiah Kiplangat Koech set a new WYL with 7:51.51. He was closely followed by his fellow country man David Kiprotich Bett (7:52.13). Third place went to Goitom Kifle from Erithrea with a time of (8:05.83).
Boys: 200m
A second gold medal turned Kirani James to the star of this WYC. Any comparison to Usain Bolt is an honor for this confident boy from Grenada but he wants to craft his own story. He followed his victory in the 400m with a gold in 200m in 21.05s.
Alberto Gavaldà (21.33) already suffered considerable delay and went on to take the Silver. Third place went to Keenan Brock from the USA (21.39).
Boys: 1500m
Gideon Kiage Mageda (3:37.36) and Caleb Mwangangi Ndiku (3:38.42) from Kenya had little competition and easily captured gold and silver.
Girma Bekele from Ethiopia clocked a time of 3:39.88 winning the bronze. He is co-incidentally not related to the Olympic Champion Kenenisa Bekele. Mohamed Al-Garni from Qatar placed fifth despite preparing at the high altitude training camp in St.Mortiz.
Boys: 2000m Steeplechase
Hillary Kipsang Yego might still be perfecting his steeplechase technique but this did no prevent the Kenyan to win gold with 5:25.33 setting a new WYL. Peter Kibet Lagat placed 2nd with 5:26.59 and won Kenya's third double victory on this last day. Desta Alemu (5:29.66) was the next fastest (5:29.66) taking home the bronze.
Boys: Javelin Throw
Shih-Feng Huang won the first ever WYC medal for Taiwan. Nobody threw as far as Huang (74.00). Kilian Durechou from France placed Silver with 73.54 while Braian Toledo (73.44) from Argentina followed closely on 3rd place.
Boys: Pole Vault
Minsub Jin was the only one to clear the 5.15m mark winning the WYC gold for Korea. He was followed by Carlo Paech and Daniel Clemens who both jumped 5.10m continuing the German tradition in this category.
Girls: Long Jump
Minjia Lu from China decisively took the gold in the long jump with six jumps above 6m (6.22m in 2nd attempt). She shared the podium with Alina Rotaru (Rumania/6.09m) and Jennifer Clayton (USA/6.05m).
Girls: Medley Relay (100+200+300+400m)
The US relay team dominated the medley relay. Purvis & Co. clocked a winning time of 2:04.32 setting a new WYL and Ashton was also the only athlete in this WYC to win three medals. Silver went to Hungary (2:09.22), bronze to Rumania (2:09.25). Bahamas missed the medal by 8/100.
Boys: Medley Relay (100+200+300+400m)
The US boys followed suit. In addition to taking the gold in 1:50.33 they also set this WYC's 2nd WYB. Brazil captured the Silver in the last meters of the race (1:52.66) ahead of the Japanese team (1:52.82).
Complete results and interviews with medalists can be found on http://www.suedtirol2009.org
