Posted: July 15, 2004

Athletics: Dynamic Duos sweep sprints at World Juniors

GROSSETO, Italy – The dynamic duos of Owens and Baldwin for the women and Williams and Omole for the men sprinted to a gold and silver finish respectively to sweep the titles of the world’s fastest juniors on day 2 of the 10th IAAF World Junior Track & Field Championships in Grosseto, Italy.

UNLV-bound Ashley Owens ran a wind-legal personal best time of 11.13 seconds while Mt. SAC College-bound Jasmine Baldwin ran 11.34 seconds to claim gold and silver in the women’s 100m finals. A Colorado Springs, Colo., native, Owens’ time was the second fastest at a World Junior championships. “This is really cool actually to win my first world championship after finishing fourth at Pan Am Juniors (Championships) last year,” said Owens. “At the start, I focused on my cue which was all I could think about. After that everything felt natural as it always happens. This was a good closure to my high school career.”

Ivory Williams of Central HS (Beaumont, Texas) ran a season best time of 10.29 seconds while teammate Demi Omole of Wisconsin ran 10.31 seconds to complete the gold-silver sweep in the 100. “I got out to a good start,” said Williams. “Demi and I were the first out of the blocks. I just kept my knees up. I am very excited to win my first world title,” Williams continued.

“We have a young inexperienced but talented group of athletes. They have been training hard for the past two weeks. Tonight started off with gold and silver and I hope it continues on,” said men’s head coach Ken Brauman.

In the 400m semi-finals, East Carolina University-bound LaShawn Merritt won his heat in 45.84 seconds while South Carolina-bound Keith Hinnant finished 46.93 to advance to the finals tomorrow evening. “If I knew that athlete (Ali Abubakar Nagmeldin of Sundan) was a finisher like that, I would have broke later maybe down the straightaway,” said Merritt. “I know I have the foot speed to do so.” University of South Carolina-bound Natasha Hastings also moved to the finals of the 400m, winning her heat in a time of 53.50; teammate Ashlee Kidd of Georgia Tech placed third in the same heat, in a time of 53.93 to move on.

Nebraska’s Jenny Green endured different circumstances to clear 3.85m/12-7.50 and move on to the women’s pole vault finals on Friday. “I had to jump on someone else’s pole today,” said Green. “The pole I started on was the lightest I have ever jumped on, which caused difficulties.” Nicole Leach advanced easily in the 400m hurdles, winning her heat in a time of 57.98. “I tried to get out first in the first 200 meters when normally I sit back, and pick it up at 150 meters,” said Leach. “My focus is to clear all the hurdles and to help bring another medal for USA and represent Philly to the fullest.”

Cal-Berkley-bound Melissa Faubus finished eighth in the women’s discus finals with her 48.52m/159-2 mark. After Day 1 events, Team USA decathletes Jangy Addy and Chris Helwick were in eighth (3,874) and 19th (3,579) places, respectively.

Other Team USA members who competed today, but did not advance included Stevie Marshalek of Black Diamond, Wash., who finished ninth (3.60m/11-9.75) in the qualifying round of the women’s pole vault; Derek Scott of Cornerstone University (9:22.34) in the 3000m steeplechase, javelin throwers Brian Harris of Washington (61.21m/200-10) and Andrew Vogelsberg of Emporia State (60.60m/198-10); Christina Smith of Tennessee (1:00.42) in the 400m hurdles; University of Miami-bound Timothy Harris in the 800m (1:50.97); LaTavia Thomas of West Catholic High (Phila, Pa.) in the women’s 800m (2:09.11); Keith Bechtol of William & Mary to (31:45.99) in the men’s 10,000m.

For more information on the 2004 IAAF World Junior Track & Field Championships, including results from the Pre-World Meet, visit www.iaaf.org or USATF’s newly redesigned website at www.usatf.org.

Athlete Quotes:

Ashley Owens (World Junior 100m champion) UNLV-bound:

This is really cool actually to win my first world championship after finishing fourth at Pan Am Juniors (Championships). At the start, I focused on my cue, which was all I could think about, after that everything felt natural as it always happens. This was a good closure to my high school career. I really trained hard and excited to get a PR without the wind. I want to thank my coach for hounding me to practice.

Jasmine Baldwin (World Juniors 100m silver) Mt. SAC College-bound:

I was excited, I did not have much faith in myself, but in the end I came out here to get a medal. I want to give some credit to my dad and those who believed in me. It is great for Ashley (Owens) and I to go 1-2.

Ivory Williams (World Juniors 100m champion) Central High (Beaumont, Texas):

I got out to a good start. Demi and I were the first out of the blocks. I just kept my knees up. I am very excited to win my first world title. I warmed up pretty good and stretched before the race because my hamstring was bothering me.

Demi Omole (World Juniors 100m silver) Wisconsin:

I got out as fast as I could. I was focused on getting my knees up to 90 degrees. Overall, it wasn’t my best race, but excited to finish in the top two. The focus entering the race, was to get gold and silver and I’m happy to accomplish that goal.

Brandon Johnson (400mH) UCLA:

I felt really good. I did what I wanted to accomplish in this round. I came out really hard in the beginning and just relaxed to the finish.

Kerron Clement (400mH) Florida:

I really felt good and pleased with my race since I did not ‘stutter’ step at the seventh and eighth hurdles. I plan to drop a second every race I run from now on.

Jenny Green (Pole Vault) Nebraska:

I had to jump on someone else’s pole today. The pole I started on was the lightest I have ever jumped on, which caused difficulties. I never got up in warm-ups. I cleared the first height on my third attempt, which made me nervous. Once I cleared that height, I gathered myself and just worried about jumping to make the finals. It wasn’t pretty but I got the jump done. I have my poles now, and will be ready for Friday. Without my poles, I have not been able to practice since I’ve been here. It’s a great experience to be with vaulters that come from all over the world.

Brian Harris (Javelin Throw) Washington:

It is the end of the season, but I’m not happy with my performance today. It’s over now for me, but I will do all I can to support the other guys. That is something really cool about USA Teams – when someone does bad there is another teammate doing something that you can cheer on. It’s a great experience for me to be here.

Nicole Leach (400mH) West Catholic High (Phila, Pa.):

I was nervous. I tried to get out first in the first 200 meters when normally I sit back, and pick it up at 150 meters. I just kept it going. The race felt easier since I got such an early start. It felt like the hurdles weren’t there. My focus is to clear all the hurdles and to help bring another medal for USA and represent Philly to the fullest.

Christina Smith (400mH) Tennessee:

My race was ok. I got out to a good start, but I did not finish well. Most of my hurdles were good until I messed up on the seventh and eighth hurdles and I should have kept pushing, but I was too relaxed.

LaShawn Merritt (400m) East Carolina-bound:

I seen one athlete come from know where. I had another gear, and he was all the way out in lane eight. I was running with him and then he started picking up after the 200m curve. He must have run that home stretch hard. Once I was moving towards the finish, I saw him right there with me, so I accelerated once I got to the 120 meter mark which put out in front. If I knew that athlete was a finisher like that, I would have broke later maybe down the straightaway. I know I have the foot speed to do so.