Robinson-O'Hagan Outshines Shot Put Competition And Still Has Hammer Yet To Come; Kennedy Wade Runs Strong Anchor Leg To Help U.S. Prevail Over Indian In Mixed 4x400 Relay

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Tarik Robinson-O'Hagan came to Cali, Colombia with two chances to win a medal and wasted no time, earning the first individual gold medal for the U.S. at the World Athletics U20 Championships in the men's shot put. 

Robinson-O'Hagan adapted quickly to the slightly heavier 6-kilogram shot put (13.2 pounds) and launched it past the 20-meter line five times in six tries. His best throw, 68-0.25 (20.73m) in the fourth round, held up for the victory. 

Robinson-O'Hagan, who elevated to the No. 4 all-time prep competitor with the 6-kilogram shot put, is entered Thursday in the hammer, perhaps his best event. 

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"It's one of the best feelings I've ever had, after waiting for this for the past four years," said Robinson-O'Hagan, who graduated from Woonsocket High in Rhode Island and is headed to Ole Miss in the fall.

"Job's not done. I still have the hammer on Thursday, so we'll see if I can come out with two medals. That would be an even better feeling, but right now I'm just living in the moment."

Robinson-O'Hagan was one of two gold-medal performances for the U.S. on the second day of competition in Cali. 

The mixed 4x400 relay team held on for a dramatic victory over India to win gold in that event and broke the championships meet record for the second straight day. Charlie Bartholomew, Madison Whyte, Will Sumner and Kennedy Wade ran 3:17.69. 

India's standout anchor leg Rupal Chaudhary took the baton about 10 meters behind Wade and caught up to her rounding the final bend. But Wade held her ground and found another gear to prevent Chaudhary from passing her and beat her to the finish line by .07 seconds. 

In the men's 100-meter final, Letsile Tebogo from Botswana proved he was the class of the field by lowering his own World U20 record to 9.91 seconds. Laurenz Colbert took seventh for the U.S. in 10.24.

Mine De Klerk, a South African athlete who competes for Oregon, became the first female athlete in meet history to win consecutive shot put titles with a third-round effort of 56-4 (17.17m) after prevailing last year in Kenya with a sixth-round mark of 57-1 (17.40m).

She is also the only women's competitor from South Africa to earn three World U20 medals, including silver in the discus throw last year.

Erwan Konate of France also secured back-to-back gold medals in the men's long jump, becoming the first repeat champion in the event as well.

Konate achieved a fifth-round leap of 26-6.25 (8.08m) to prevail again after winning in Kenya last year with a 26-7.75 (8.12m) performance.

Americans Curtis Williams and Johnny Brackins finished fourth and sixth overall. Williams achieved a sixth-round effort of 25-9.50 (7.86m) and Brackins jumped 25-7.50 (7.81m) in the second round.

Adriana Vilagos of Serbia set the championship record in the women's javelin with a third-round throw of 208-4 (63.52m) to repeat as gold medalist, joining Osleidys Menendez of Cuba in 1996 and 1998 as the only two-time winners in meet history.

In the first round of the women's 100 meters, Shawnti Jackson blazed to a time of 11.28 seconds and tied her personal best with the third-fastest time of the round. U.S. teammate Mia Brahe-Pedersen also advanced to the semifinals and won her heat with 11.45. 

Juliette Whittaker and Roisin Willis both kept their medals hopes alive in the women's 800 meters by advancing to the finals.