12th July 2013

BAKARE WINS FIRST GOLD FOR GB & NI IN DONETSK

12 July 2013

GB & NI tonight added to their medal tally at the IAAF World Youth Championships as Sabrina Bakare (coach: Jane Dixon) won gold in the 400m. Bakare, who yesterday set a personal best of 53.25 in the semi-finals went even better in the final as she crossed the line in 52.77 – the ninth best time in the UK this year.

The 17 year old lined up in the final against pre-race favourite USA’s Olivia Baker and showed maturity beyond her years as she stormed to victory at the RSC Olimpskiy Stadium in Donetsk.

An ecstatic Bakare said: “I’m absolutely over the moon, it’s such an overwhelming feeling. When I saw my time, I was shocked, but to have won it’s something else.

“I knew (Olivia Baker) was on the inside of me and in the first 100m, I could feel that. But my coach said to me before the race to relax and race your own race and I did just that. I knew she was there in the closing stages, but I just pushed harder in the last 100m and came home strong.

“When I was watching Ojie (Edoburun) win silver last night, I thought I definitely want that. The vibe in the hotel room was absolutely amazing and it spurred me on to do what I’ve just done right now.”

Morgan Lake (Eldon Lake) leads the heptathlon by 192 points going into the final day after recording personal bests in the 100m hurdles and the high jump. Lake began her campaign clocking 14.12 in the 100m hurdles before clearing 1.90m, a height which would have won six out of the last seven individual high jump competitions at the IAAF World Youth Championships.

The 16 year old continued to shine in the afternoon session throwing within 11cm of her personal best with winning throw of 14.59m – 75cm further than her nearest rival. In the 200m, Lakes final event of the day, she ran 25.56 to finish on 3736 points. With three events tomorrow, Lake is in confident mood as she looks to secure another medal for GB & NI.

“I’m where I want to be, the high jump obviously boosted my points a little bit more, so I’m in a good position looking into tomorrow.

“Hopefully I can challenge my record, but my long jump in the last few heptathlons haven’t been that good, so I’m looking for a big one in the final day.

“I’m absolutely over the moon – 1.88m heads the UK high jump rankings and I was hoping to get around that but two centimetres more, I’m delighted,” added Lake, who is now UK ranked number one for 2013 in the high jump.

In the men’s 200m, Thomas Somers (Geoffrey Barraclough) lowered his personal best from 21.41 to 21.09, as he left his competitors trailing in his wake as he secured his place in tomorrow’s semi-final as the third fastest athlete. Somers was pleased with the execution of his race, and believes if his form continues in the same fashion, he can put himself in medal contention.

“I’ll hopefully PB again and win the semi-final . I’m in great shape, so I’m hoping to compete for a medal. I’d like to run sub-21 seconds and hopefully I can pull that out in the semi-final and then again in the final.”

Running in lane one, Shannon Hylton (John Blackie) showed an immense amount of strength as she cruised through her first round of the 200m in 23.58 – the second fastest qualifier through to the semi-final. Hylton, who was just 0.04 off her personal best admitted that she felt comfortable during her race, but has now got her sights set on going even faster.

“I am quite happy with the time because I knew I had to go out hard at the bend because my aim is always to be in front after that point. I was strolling down the home straight and felt good. I hope to qualify from the semi-final, run a better time and I’d love to PB here."

Both Harry Coppell (John Mitchell) and Adam Hague (Trevor Fox) secured the automatic qualification standard in the men’s pole vault, with Coppell only needing one jump and Hague four to advance to the final.

“I usually come in at 4.85m, and although the conditions weren’t the best, I knew that as long as I got that jump I’d be fine,” said Coppell.

“I’ll probably come in at the same height in the final and I’m probably going to have to do all the heights because it’s going to be particularly close with a few of the top ranked guys. If I could medal with 5.20m, I’d be really happy and that’s probably realistic.”

After running a personal best in the semi-final of the 100m hurdles, Euan Dickson-Earle (David Brown) finished in fifth place in the final in a time of 13.62 and the 17 year old was left astounded by what he had achieved in Donetsk.

“Today I got into on my marks and I looked down and realised this is so surreal. In my GB kit, it means so much to me, my family, my coach and the country. I think I’ve done myself proud and everyone at home, so I’m really happy.”

Chelsea Jarvis (David Turnbull) (2:07.74) secured her place in Saturday’s 800m final, but teammate Emily Jenkinson (Todd Bennett) (2:08.74) narrowly missed out on advancing through her semi-final.

In a 2000m steeplechase won by Ethiopian Meresa Kahsay in a World Youth best time of 5:19.99, Haran Dunderdale (Mark Baddeley) crossed the line in 14th place in a time of 5:56.23.

Reflecting on his appearance in the final, the 17 year old said: “It has been such a good experience because I now know what’s in between the heats and a final in terms of how much rest you need.

"I expected the leading guys to absolutely smash it, but not that fast. I suffered near the end, but I’m only 17, so I’ve got time to catch them up. My preparation worked, and I can now take it into future competitions."