BARCELONA, Spain – Second day action at the IAAF World Junior Championships for the Aggies included Jennifer Madu running in the women’s 100-meter final while Aldrich Bailey qualified for the men’s 400 final and Gregory Coleman advanced past the opening round of the 400 hurdles at the Olympic Stadium on Wednesday.
Madu finished fifth in the 100 final with a time of 11.52. She advanced to the final on time by placing third in her semifinal heat with an 11.49.
Earlier in the day Madu placed ninth in her section of triple jump qualifying and did not advance to the final. Her best effort measured 41-9.75 (12.74).
In the men’s 400 semifinal Bailey won his heat with a clocking of 45.79, the fastest mark advancing to the final. The runner-up to Bailey in the heat posted a 46.06, the third fastest mark among the eight who advanced to Thursday’s final.
“I just tried to win – nothing too fancy, and I feel good about it,” said Bailey. “I knew the guy from Kenya (Boniface Ontuga Mweresa) that his PR was 46-flat, so I knew he was going to give me a push (from the outside lane). I just picked it up in the last 100. In the final I want to PR, hopefully. I’m going to run my race – that’s all I have to say.”
A career best time of 50.95 from Gregory Coleman in the 400 hurdles, held during the morning session, led the qualifiers to the semifinal of that event. Coleman achieved his PR even after feeling ill prior to his race as he was the only competitor to run a sub 51-second time.
“I felt like I had to push and I had to PR to get through to the semis,” noted Coleman. “Even though I didn’t feel my best, I usually PR when I don’t feel my best.
“Tomorrow is going to be way better than today – I was a bit shaky on the last two hurdles and I used my weak leg on hurdle ten which I hit. If I came over with my right leg, I would probably be at 50.5.”
Thursday’s morning session will include Devin Bogert in the javelin, Olivia Ekponé in the 200 and the 400 hurdle semifinal for Coleman. In the evening session Ekponé will have a 200 semifinal while finals are held in the discus with Dalton Rowan and the 400 with Bailey.
