Jamaica ends 2nd IOC Youth Olympics with 4 medals

Photo: Opening ceremony of the IOC Youth Olympics (Getty Images)

Jamaica has wrapped up it performances at the 2nd staging of the IOC Youth Olympic, in Nanjing China, which comes to a close on the 28 of August 2014. The team of 20 athletes finished with a record medal haul of 4, three gold and one silver, courtesy of one the games top performer, Jaheel Hyde, Martin Manley, Natalia Whyte and Obrien Waysome.

The last two medal hopefuls in the form of Holmwood Technical athlete Shenice Cohen and Triple Jumper Jordan Scott, failed in the bid to improve the country’s tally. Cohen running from lane eight in the women’s 400m hurdles, was out front from the sound of the gun but faded badly in the homestretch, to cross the line in 7th position with a time of 1.03. 56s.

Scott fail to improve on his personal best jump in the qualifiers of the men’s triple jumper, and had to settle for 5th with a best leap of 15.03m.

Jamaica who had been hoping to reclaim the silver medal spot secured by Chad Walker in the 200m, before he was disqualified for a lane violation, saw their appeal thrown out after replays showed that Walker ran out of his lane at the start of the race. The record medal haul bettered the single gold medal, won by former Wolmers athlete Odeen skeen in the men’s 100 at the inaugural staging in Singapore.

Jamaica is currently sitting in 18th spot on the medal table (finishing 6th in track and field), and hoping to remain until the conclusion of the games. A few members of the team may get a chance to represent the region in a new event, the mixed team 8x100m relay.