Lauryn Williams (Miami) ran a personal best time of 11.33 to win the first gold medal for Team USA in the women’s 100m dash at the IAAF World Junior Track & Field Championships in Kingston, Jamaica. Williams, the 2002 U.S. Junior 100m champion, edged out home crowd favorite Simone Facey (JAM) and USA teammate Marshevet Hooker (Southwest (TX) HS) for the gold. Hooker, only 17-years old, won the bronze medal in 11.48.

Team USA added three medals on day two, including bronze in the men’s 100m dash. 2002 U.S. Junior 100m runner-up Willie Hordge (Forest Brook (TX) HS) ran 10.36 for the third place performance. Teammate Rashaad Allen (CSU-Northridge) finished fifth in the men’s final with a time of 10.39.

In other finals on Wednesday, Lindsey Johnson (BYU) finished 7th overall in the final of the women’s javelin. Johnson’s best mark of 50.99m/167-3 came on her fourth attempt. 2002 U.S. Junior 10k RW champion Ben Shorey (Wisconsin-Parkside) finished 17th in the men’s 10k race walk in 45.22.42.

World Junior 400H record holder Lashinda Demus (South Carolina) won her heat easily in the qualifying rounds of the women’s 400H. Demus, the 2002 U.S. Junior 400H champion, ran 57.38 to advance to Friday’s final. Teammate Tiffany Ross (South Carolina) ran 59.54 to win her heat in the 400H and advance to the finals. On the men’s side, Bershawn Jackson (Central (FL) HS) and Kenneth Ferguson (Mumford (MI) HS) won their semi final heats and advanced to Friday’s final. Jackson ran 50.77 to win his semi final heat, while Ferguson won in 50.90.

At 400 meters, all four U.S. athletes advanced to Thursday’s final. For the ladies, former American Junior 400m record holder Monique Henderson (UCLA) ran the fastest time for the second straight day in the qualifying heats in 52.31. Henderson was followed by current American Junior 400m record holder Sanya Richards (St. Thomas Aquinas (FL) HS), who ran 52.72. For the men, Darold Williamson (Baylor) won his semi final heat in 46.31, while Jonathan Fortenberry (South Carolina) finished second in his semi final with a time of 46.16.

Donovan Kilmartin (Eagle (ID) HS) struggled in the discus event of the men’s decathlon, fouling on all three attempts. Kilmartin, who was in third place heading into the discus, finished the 10-event competition in 12th place with 6,930 points. Kilmartin won his section of the 110H (15.06), finished 2nd in his group of the pole vault (4.60m/15-1) and was 16th in his flight for the javelin (45.51m/149-3). He finished the night strong with a 5th place finish in the 1500m in 4:34.48.

Also advancing in their preliminary heats on Wednesday were Andra Manson (Brenham (TX) HS) and Jesse Williams (Broughton (NC) HS), who qualified in the men’s high jump. Both athletes cleared 2.18 meters (7 feet, 1.75 inches). The finals of the men’s high jump will be on Thursday. In the men’s long jump, Trevell Quinley (Arizona State) advanced to Thursday’s final with a mark of 7.41m/24-3.75, which he did on his second attempt. Teammate Marvin Lucas (Southern Mississippi) injured his hamstring during Wednesday’s qualifier on his first attempt and did not get a mark.

2002 World Junior Shot Put silver medalist Sean Shields (Arizona) advanced to final in the men’s discus. Shields finished fifth in his flight with a best throw of 57.74m/189-5. Teammate Michael Robertson, 2002 U.S. Junior DT champion did not advance to the final. He finished the day with a mark of 53.58m/175-9. In the men’s 800m semi finals, Team USA’s Richard Smith (South Lakes (VA) HS) and Frank Francois (Tennessee) did not advance to the finals. Smith finished 6th in his heat with a time of 1:50.29, while Francois finished 8th in his heat in 1:53.67.

With four total medals after two days of competition, including 3 on Wednesday, Team USA tops the medal count and leads the point standings. Thursday’s finals include the women’s pole vault (Janson), men’s high jump (Manson and Williams), men’s discus (Shields), men’s long jump (Quinley), women’s 10k RW (Stevens) and will cap off with the men’s and women’s 400m finals (Williamson, Fortenberry, Richards and Henderson).

For all the latest news on the 2002 IAAF World Junior Track & Field Championships, visit the USATF Web site at www.usatf.org. For complete results from the World Junior Championships, visit www.iaaf.org/WJC02/Results/Byevent.html.