Charging through the field down the home straight, Antonio Watson of Jamaica grabbed the gold medal in a thrilling boys 400m final at the World Under 18 Championships in Nairobi, Kenya. Photo: IAAF

Cuba’s Jordan Diaz took the Gold Medal in the Triple Jump with a leap of 14.76 metres on Friday July 14, 2017.

Antigua’s Taeco O’Garro’s leap of 15.06 metres in the Triple Jump finals was his best of six attempts but could not get him the top three finish he was hoping for.

The Antiguan, who reached the finals on Friday morning with a distance of 14.76 meters, finished eighth overall in the competition, completing what had been deemed a good performance by the 15-year-old throughout the competition. 

Cuba’s Jordan Diaz claimed the gold medal with his 17.30 metres leap, a world U18 best, beating the mark set by his compatriot Lazaro Martinez in 2014 by six centimetres.

In a close battle for the other medals, Frixon David Chila of Ecuador came through for silver with 15.92m, with Arnovis Dalmero of Colombia in third with 15.89m and the second Cuban, Yusniel Jorrin, only a centimetre behind in fourth.

Caribbean athletes sweep 400M Final

Charging through the field down the home straight, Antonio Watson of Jamaica grabbed the gold medal in a thrilling boys 400m final.

While another Jamaican athlete, Anthony Cox, and Brazil's Bruno da Silva were neck-and-neck at the front of the field off the top bend, they both faded as a trio of sprinters chased them down to scoop the podium places.

Watson snatched the title in 46.59, crossing the line 0.13 ahead of Guyana's Daniel Williams (46.72).

Colby Jennings of the Turks and Caicos Islands ended third in 46.77 in a blanket finish, with all three of the medallists achieving personal bests.

With just 0.18 separating the top four finishers, it was the closest boys’ 400m final in World U18 Championships history.

VI opted out of World Youth C/Ships

The Virgin Islands (UK) opted not to take part in the IAAF World Under 18 Championships, allegedly over security concerns.

They had joined countries like champions USA, New Zealand, Britain, Australia, Canada, Switzerland and Japan, who also pulled out of the event, citing security fears.

Some 130 countries are nevertheless taking part in the event.