MONCTON, Canada (CMC) – Dexter Lee maintained Jamaica’s dominance in world sprinting when he snatched the 100 metres at the World Junior Championships here Wednesday night in a narrow finish. The 19-year-old produced a late burst to reach the tape in a time of 10.21 seconds to successfully defend the title he won at Bydgoszcz, Poland, two years ago.
However, he was forced to pull out all the stops as he was tested all the way to the finish by American Charles Silmon who clocked a personal best 10.23 seconds.
In fact, Silmon seemed to have the race won after 80 metres before Lee’s late burst saw him to victory, giving him the honour of becoming the first sprinter to successfully defend a title.
Frenchman Jimmy Vicaut was third in 10.28 seconds to claim bronze while St Kitts and Nevis’ Jason Rogers was sixth in 10.49.
His attempt to pursue the sprint double came to an embarrassingly premature end when he was disqualified for a false start in his 200 metres heat early yesterday.
One of three sprinters in the heat to be disqualified, Lee made light of the incident afterwards.
“Yes, I am a little disappointed. I was sure about the 100m but I was not sure about the 200m, I wanted a medal,” he was quoted as saying. “I still have the 4x100m. My coach won’t say thing about this.”
“I think I jumped the gun. I was about 80 per cent ready I think, I just jumped the gun. The rain wasn’t a factor but it was a little cold. Everything felt right in the warm-up.”
There were no such problems for British sprinter Jodie Williams who wasted little time as she destroyed her field to win the women’s 100 metres in a time of 11.40 seconds.
The 16-year-old, who won both sprint titles World Youth Championships in Italy last year, finished comfortably ahead of American Takeia Pinckney (11.49) and the Netherlands’ Jamile Samuel (11.56)