Athletes compete during the Men's 100 metres qualification heat on the day one of the 14th IAAF World Junior Championships at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on July 10, 2012, in Barcelona, Spain.
ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Youth sprinter Cejhae Greene has qualified for the semi-final round of the 100 metre sprints at the ongoing IAAF World Junior Championships being held in Barcelona, Spain.
The 16-year-old sprinter, who ran in heat seven during the quarter-finals, clocked 10:52 to finish third and qualify for the next stage of the event.
Greene was beaten by Aaron Ernest (10:39) of the USA and second placed Chijindu Ujah (10:48) of Britain.
The feat has placed the Princess Margaret Secondary School student into heat one of the semi-final round where will face competition from Jamaica’s Jazeel Murphy who has a season best of 10:39 and USA’s Tyreek Hill who’s season best is 10:19.
Also contesting heat one is Finland’s Eetu Rantala, Teray Smith of The Bahamas, Ujah of Great Britain, Kazuki Kanamori of Japan and Siphelo Nggabaza of South Africa.
Heat one, which will see Greene running in lane three and donning the number 12 bib, is slated to race off today at 7:30 pm in Spain, which is 2:30 pm Atlantic Standard time.
Former sprinter, Heather Samuel, who coaches Greene on the national level, said the athlete has done well so far and expects that with more hard work, he could make the finals of the event.
“He’s probably one of the youngest athletes there and it is good to see that he is there running in the semi-finals against athletes who are 18 and 19 years old,” she said.
“So I am very happy at this moment for him, but he would understand that the work is not done and that he would have to put on a really good run tomorrow (Wednesday). You have to execute to the tee to be in that finals.”
Another national sprinter, Tahir Walsh, was however unlucky not to have qualified after he clocked 10:71 seconds to finish third in heat five.
USA’s hill won the heat in 10:37, while Mobolade Ajomale (10:68) of Canada was second.
Samuel expressed some disappointment with Walsh’s performance but hoped for better results in the 200 metres event which is slated to race off on Thursday.
“A little disappointing for me as well. I thought he would have run better this meet around. I am not his coach really and I think his coach may be best suitable to explain what is going on with Tahir; but a little disappointed, but he has hopes still for the 200 metres so let’s see what he can do there,” the former sprinter said.
Those wishing to watch live streaming of the World Junior Championships can do so at www.stopstream.tv where, according to Samuel, all the events can be viewed.
