Due mainly to its female athletes, The United States has finally won the IAAF/ Maroc Telecom World Youth Athletic Championships with six golden medals out of a total of thirteen. Eight of which were grabbed by girls. The United States advanced China (5) and Kenya (4) which came second and third respectively.
200m - Boys - Final. Harry Aikines (GBR); a double gold medallist with a world youth leading performance.
Harry Aikines- Aryeetey ( GBR) is the real jewel of the IAAF/ Maroc Telecom world Youth Championships. In an infernal sprint, he won his second gold medal and smashed the world youth leading performance. His time is unprecedented in the history of athletics. “ I have no idea where I could find this energy for a second win. It’s amazing, I cant believe it: two medals. I have never thought about.” Said Aikines. Silver and bronze went to The Cuban, Jorge Valcarcel and the Italian, Matteo Galvan who improved their personal bests as well. The Saudi Arabian failed to grab a medal. He came eighth but with a personal best (21.39).
The Moroccan Athletic Team; in search of a missed opportunity…
None of the Moroccan young athletes was able to reach the podium. Motivated but inexperienced the Moroccan athletes quit the competition. The value of the IAAF/ Maroc Telecom world Youth Championships for Moroccan athletes, however, is to acclimatise them with the rhythm of international athletic meetings. Moroccans placed high hopes on their young athletes to dedicate Morocco a medal.
The most outstanding thing to note is the effort of the Moroccan pole vaulter who came fourth in the final. Another good thing to mention is the visible presence of Moroccan athletes in the final of different disciplines
800m - Girls - Final. Halima Hachlaf (MOR); to miss the poduim.
Halima Hachlaf failed to dedicate Morocco its first and only medal at the championship. She came fourth in the race. The Kenyans, Flavious Teresa Kwamboka and Winny Chebet competed in the race for gold which went finally to the first. Katherine Katsanevakis (AUS) defied Halima and got bronze.
400m hurdles - Boys - Final. The Sudanese supremacy.
The 400m – Boys – Final turns out to be a tough and devastating race between Abdulagadir Idriss (SUD), Mohammed Daak (KSA), and David Klech (USA). The Sudanese finally smashed the world leading performance (50.78) and grabbed gold out of the Saudi Arabian’s and the American’s jaws who won silver and bronze respectively with personal bests.
Javelin Throw - Girls - Final. Li Zhang (winner of the golden medal)
Wit a throw of 56.66 metres, Li Zhang (CHN) has finally offered China the fourth golden medal on the last day of the competition. Vera Rebryk ( UKR) and Yanet Cruz (CUB) won silver and gold respectively.
200m - Girls - Final. Martinez Aymeé; to break the championship record.
The spotlight is finally on Martinez Aymeé (CUB) not on Bianca Knight (USA). The Cuban did a tri-level performance by winning gold, smashing the championship record, and defeating her main contestant, Bianca Knight who won silver. Bronze went to the Jamaican King La Toya with a personal best (23.57).
100m hurdles - Girls - Final. April Williams; a successful struggle for gold and a world youth leading performance.
April Williams (USA) has finally won the golden medal and smashed the world youth leading performance (13.23). The bronze medal went to her compatriot and main contestant, Lewis Teresa. Ruddock Natash (CUB) came second with a silver medal.
1500m - Boys - Final. An Arabian Armada in Marrakech.
Ali Belal Mansour and Bader Khalil Bader competed and co-operated in the race to grab two medals (gold and silver) for Bahrain. They are the runners Bahrain has never had in the history. The bronze medal went to the Sudanese, Abubaker Kaki with a personal best(3: 45. 06). On the last day of the competition, Fouad El Kaam(1500m-Boys-Final) is the third Moroccan finalist athletes to miss his medal.
Medley Relay - Boys – Heats. Too difficult to pace up with an American team.
The Americans Green Isaiah, May Devin, Shandy Zach, Nallum Bryshon) have finally defeated their contestants and smashed the world youth leading performance (1: 51. 19). The bronze medal went to Trinidad while Saudi Arabia won bronze.
The final medal table.
Country |
Gold |
Silver |
Bronze |
Total |
USA |
6 |
3 |
4 |
13 |
China |
5 |
1 |
2 |
8 |
Kenya |
4 |
5 |
1 |
10 |
Russia |
3 |
5 |
|
8 |
Cuba |
3 |
2 |
2 |
7 |
South Africa |
3 |
1 |
1 |
5 |
Sudan |
3 |
|
1 |
4 |
Australia |
2 |
3 |
2 |
7 |
Great-Britain |
2 |
1 |
2 |
5 |
Bahrain |
2 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
Romania |
1 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
Ethiopia |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
Hungary |
1 |
|
1 |
2 |
Bermuda |
1 |
|
|
1 |
Greece |
1 |
|
|
1 |
Iran |
1 |
|
|
1 |
Ukraine |
|
4 |
|
4 |
Japan |
|
1 |
3 |
4 |
Jamaica |
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
Germany |
|
1 |
1 |
2 |
Saoudi Arabia |
|
1 |
1 |
2 |
Trinitad & Tobago |
|
1 |
1 |
2 |
Barbados |
|
1 |
|
1 |
Croatia |
|
1 |
|
1 |
Czech |
|
1 |
|
1 |
Estonia |
|
1 |
|
1 |
France |
|
1 |
|
1 |
Venezuela |
|
1 |
|
1 |
Brasil |
|
|
3 |
3 |
Bulgaria |
|
|
2 |
2 |
Spain |
|
|
2 |
2 |
Italy |
|
|
1 |
1 |
Kazakhstan |
|
|
1 |
1 |
Paraguay |
|
|
1 |
1 |
Portugal |
|
|
1 |
1 |
