EUGENE, Oregon (CMC) – Jamaica snatched silver in the women’s sprint relay while their men were forced to settle for silver, on the penultimate day of the IAAF World Junior Championships here Saturday night.

The team of Sasha Forbes, Kedisha Dallas, Saqukine Cameron and Natalliah Whyte clocked a season-best 43.97 seconds to finish second behind the United States who took gold in a junior world-leading 43.46 seconds at Hayward Field.
Germany copped bronze in a season-best 44.65.
For Jamaica, it was their first medal in a women’s event at the current Games, and Dallas said the performance had come as a result of a big team effort.
“It was all about executing it right, getting the baton around. We worked great together as a team,” she said.
Cameron, who ran the third leg, added: “Once I had the baton in my hand it was just about running hard and making sure nothing goes wrong with the pass.”
The U.S were out front from the first exchange thanks to Teahna Daniels and though Jamaica chased, they failed to do enough to overhaul the Americans.
“I’m the anchor, so I only have one hand-off,” Whyte said. “I just took the baton and ran as fast as I could on the homestretch. Team Jamaica thumbs up.”
Trinidad and Tobago finished quickly in 44.75 to claim fourth spot, narrowly failing to rein in the Germans.
In the men’s equivalent, Jamaica experienced their worst finish at a World Junior Games in 12 years, after taking either silver or gold at previous events since 2002.
Jevaughn Minzie ran a great final leg to almost overtake Japan for the silver medal, but had to settle for bronze in the end in 39.12 seconds, a season-best.
United States won gold in a junior world-leading 38.70 seconds while the Japanese clocked a season-best 39.02.
Raheem Robinson, who led off the team that included Michael O’Hara, Edward Clarke, said there was no disappointment in the camp.
“I just came out here to represent my country. I got a good, fast start and it was a good race for our country,” he said.
“Being here has been great. We’ve had a lot of fun and enjoyed ourselves and got the job done at the same time. We’ve dreamt about this since we were kids. It’s a dream come true.”
Clarke, who ran the third leg, agreed: “It feels good to be following in a strong Jamaican tradition. We’re trying to set up some stepping stones for ourselves and our country.”
There was disappointment for T&T, however, as they finished sixth in a season-best time of 39.92 seconds.
The Games ended yesterday with Jamaica and the Bahamas contesting the final of the men’s distance relay and Jamaica doing battle in the women’s equivalent.
Barbadian Akela Jones, who won gold in the long jump, will go in search of her second medal when she lines up in the high jump along with Kirsta-Gay Taylor of Jamaica.