Garrett and bronze medalist Rose become first American teammates to both make podium in event since 2014; McElroy secures silver in men’s 400, Afrifah edges Tebogo in 200 final and Michigan commit John wins women’s 400 crown

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Akala Garrett was running for a greater purpose than just her first global title Thursday in the women’s 400-meter hurdles final at the World Athletics U20 Championships.

Garrett, 17, wound up using the inspiration of her late uncle Eric Ward to elevate to the highest level the North Carolina prep standout has reached in her track and field career.

With the words “Ward” and “Strong” written on her forearms to honor the memory of one of her biggest supporters, the Texas-bound Garrett surged over the final two hurdles to pull away from Sweden’s Hanna Karlsson and capture the gold medal in a lifetime-best 56.16 seconds at Pascual Guerrero Olympic Stadium in Cali, Colombia.

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“I feel great. Words can’t even explain how I feel right now, but I’m just so happy,” Garrett said. “I knew there was going to be a lot of competition out there and I knew we were all going to fight. Once I saw us come over the third-to-last hurdle, I was like, ‘I gotta go,’ so I just gave it all I had.

“I was running in honor of my uncle because he passed away last September and he told me he was going to be here and I felt his spirit here throughout the entire stadium. He’s the reason why I ran so hard today was in honor of him, because he said he was buying his ticket here. But since he couldn’t physically buy it, I knew he was here in spirit and it gave me the push I needed to finish the race.”

Karlsson also ran a personal-best 56.71 to secure silver, becoming the first female athlete from Sweden to medal in the event since 1994.

Michaela Rose of LSU, despite clipping the ninth hurdle with her right foot that caused her to momentarily lose balance, remained composed and finished third for the U.S. with a lifetime-best 56.86.

“It was definitely a goal of mine to break 57, or even faster, and I’m so grateful that I finally did it and to execute the race in a way where I got the time that I wanted,” Rose said. “I definitely pushed a little harder in that last stretch seeing those girls in front of me and trying to go for it definitely gave me the push I needed.”

It marked the first time since 2014 the Americans produced two medalists in the women’s 400 hurdles, with Shamier Little capturing gold and Jade Miller earning bronze at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.

Garrett, representing Harding University High, equaled the No. 6 all-time prep competitor and became the fifth U.S. female athlete to win the 400 hurdles title at the World U20 Championships, joining Lashinda Demus in 2004, Takecia Johnson in 2008, Little in 2014 and fellow North Carolina high school star Anna Cockrell of Providence Day School in 2016.

Steven McElroy of Cincinnati added another medal for the U.S. by taking silver in the men’s 400-meter final in 45.65, with South Africa’s Lythe Pillay maintaining his advantage in the final 50 meters to triumph in a personal-best 45.28, becoming his country’s first gold medalist in the event.

“I wasn’t unhappy about that. I’m blessed to be at the point that I’m at right now,” McElroy said. “Every race is a blessing and having that race against phenomenal athletes and that time popping up on the board, I’m happy all around.”

Matt Nortje was the first South African male athlete to earn a medal in the 400 with his bronze performance last year in Kenya.

Yusuf Ali Abbas of Bahrain also achieved a lifetime-best 45.80 to take third Thursday and secure his country’s first medal in the 400 since 2014.

Yemi Mary John made history for Great Britain in the women’s 400 with her victory in a personal-best 51.50, becoming the first World U20 champion from the United Kingdom in the event.

Great Britain had never medaled in the women’s 400 before Thursday, as the Michigan-bound Mary John held off Kenya’s Damaris Mutunga (51.71) in the final 30 meters to preserve the victory.

Rupal Chaudhary of India, already a silver medalist in the mixed 4x400 relay in Colombia, added an individual bronze by running a lifetime-best 51.85 in the final.

The pursuit of a sweep of the men’s 100 and 200 titles for Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo was upstaged by Israel’s Blessing Akawasi Afrifah in a photo finish.

Afrifah became the second gold medalist from his country in as many years, edging Tebogo by a 19.954 to 19.960, as both athletes eclipsed the championship record of 19.99.

Jonathan Kapitolnik won the men’s high jump title for Israel at last year’s event in Kenya.

Australia’s Caleb Law earned bronze in 20.48, with American Brandon Miller – representing Grand Valley State – finishing fifth in 20.64.

Anthony Ammirati cleared 18-10.25 (5.75m) on his first attempt in the men’s pole vault final to capture the first gold medal in the event for France since 2014.

Finland’s Juho Alasaari achieved an 18-4.50 (5.60m) clearance on his first opportunity to take silver and Poland’s Michal Gawenda grabbed bronze by clearing 17-10.50 (5.45m) on his first try.

Garrett Brown, representing Stanford, finished fourth for the U.S. with a first-attempt clearance at 17-2.75 (5.25m).

Justin Rogers, a Hershey High of Pennsylvania graduate and Virginia signee, tied for ninth for the Americans by clearing 16-10.75 (5.15m).

Tarik Robinson-O’Hagan, the men’s shot put gold medalist, was seeking a second podium appearance for the U.S. in the hammer throw final, but the Ole Miss signee from Woonsocket High in Rhode Island finished eighth at 239-8 (73.05m).

Ioannis Korakidis prevailed with a fifth-round throw of 259-6 (79.11m), becoming the first champion from Greece in the hammer final.

Despite a late push from Cyprus’ Iosif Kesidis in the sixth round with his 250-4 (76.32m) effort, it wasn’t enough to catch silver medalist Max Lampinen of Finland at 250-5 (76.33m).

Kenya’s Faith Cherotich was ambitious from the opening run and never relinquished control in the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase final, clocking 9:16.14 to secure the country’s fourth consecutive title and ninth gold medal in 10 all-time World U20 Championship races.

Ethiopian athletes Sembo Almayew (9:30.41) and Meseret Yeshaneh (9:42.02) earned silver and bronze medals.

Karrie Baloga of Cornwall High in New York finished 11th in 10:34.28 for the Americans, followed by teammate Harper McClain from the University of Oregon in 12th in 10:37.58.

Finland’s Saga Vanninen repeated as heptathlon champion with 6,084 points, with German teammates Serina Riedel and Sandrina Sprengel capturing silver and bronze. Riedel ran 2:25.56 in the 800 meters to elevate into second with 5,874 points, ahead of Sprengel, who ran 2:30.82 to take third at 5,845.

Americans JaiCieonna Gero-Holt of Emerald Ridge High in Washington and Bryanna Craig, a Louisiana Tech signee and recent graduate of Ruston High in Louisiana, placed 17th and 18th overall.

Gero-Holt, the youngest member of the U.S. roster at age 15, accumulated 5,212 points and Craig had 5,192 points.

Jamaica’s Roshawn Clarke led three athletes to sub-50 performances in the men’s 400 hurdles semifinals, running a lifetime-best 49.35 to advance to the final.

Yan Vazquez, a graduate of Red Mountain High in Arizona and a UCLA commit, achieved a Puerto Rican U20 record with a personal-best 50.37 to also qualify. Vazquez eclipsed the 2015 mark of 50.59 achieved by Derick Diaz.

Grant Williams of Celina High in Texas, an Arkansas signee, just missed the final for the U.S. by clocking a lifetime-best 50.82. Kody Blackwood, a Texas commit from McKinney North High, ran 51.15.

Mia Brahe-Pedersen of Lake Oswego High in Oregon and South Carolina’s Jayla Jamison both advanced to the women’s 200 final to represent the Americans.

Brahe-Pedersen, 16, ran a wind-legal 22.95 for a new personal best, followed by Jamison in 23.01, as both athletes only trailed Jamaican competitor Brianna Lyston at 22.83.

Despite Brahe-Pedersen and Jamison not running in the opening round of the women’s 4x100 relay, the U.S. quartet of Lily Jones, Autumn Wilson, Iyana Gary and Alyssa Colbert still qualified in 43.66.

Jamaica, the defending champion and World U20 record holders, produced the fastest prelim time of 43.28.

The American men’s lineup of Johnny Brackins, Michael Gizzi, David Foster and Charlie Bartholomew ran 39.78 to move on to the final. Japan led all qualifiers in 39.12.

Emma Gates, an Arizona commit and graduate of Cascade High in Oregon, was one of 12 athletes to clear 5-10.75 (1.80m) and advance to the women’s high jump final.