MONCTON, Canada (CMC) – Trinidadian Jehue Gordon extended his outstanding form at the World Junior Championships here when he stormed to victory in the men’s 400 metres hurdles on Friday night. Entering the final with the fastest overall time, Gordon dismissed his opposition to claim gold in a time of 49.30 seconds at the Stade 2010 Moncton Stadium.
He hit the line ahead of the fast finishing Japanese Takatoshi Abe (49.46) while the US Virgin Islands’ Leslie Murray was third in a time of 50.22 seconds.
Gordon, who has already run a season-best 48.47, faded in the latter stages and was forced to stave off a strong challenge from Abe before claiming a well earned triumph.
His time also ensured that the World Junior record of 48.02 seconds, which he had threatened to break, remained safe.
Running out of lane five, the reigning CARIFTA champion let it rip from the start and covered the first 200 metres quickly to leave his field in the distance.
However, as he hit the bend Gordon began to tire and Abe, who had been a mere spectator before, hit back strongly in the closing metres.
Despite Abe’s threat, the 18-year-old Gordon battled to the finish to claim his first-ever World junior title after reaching only as far as the semi-finals in Poland two years ago.
Abe, meanwhile, claimed Japan’s first medal in six years while Murray also made history for the USVI as he handed them their first-ever medal in the history of the Games.
There was no more success for the Caribbean, however, as the 200 metres sprints brought disappointment.
In the men’s half-lap, Trinidadian Moriba Morain finished sixth in 21.10 seconds as Japanese Shota Iizuka took victory in 20.67 seconds.
Morain’s compatriot Kai Selvon narrowly missed out on bronze in the women’s edition when she clocked 23.58 as she trailed home winner, American Stormy Kendrick (22.99).