Guyanese track stars Stephan James and Kadecia Baird suffered similar fates yesterday at the 14th World Junior Championships in Barcelona, Spain when the competition continued.
Baird was the first to be booted out of the 100 metres semifinal when she clocked a disappointing 12.24s out of lane five in heat two for seventh position.
However, it was a creditable performance to reach that stage since it is not an event in which she regularly competes.
James, who broke Guyana’s national junior 400 metres record a day earlier, was next to be booted as he too placed seventh, also out of lane five in heat two of the 400m with a time of 47.35s which was slower than his heat time.
James’s elimination in the 400 metres signals the end of his tour of Spain but Baird is still in with a shot at making the female 400 metres final and possibly medaling for Guyana as her seasonal best of 52.14s is the second fastest for all the junior females this season, following Bahamian Shaunae Miller’s 51.25s who won her heat in a time of 52.71s.
However, Baird’s heat qualifying time of 53.29s ranks her in the top five of the top eight heat winning times thus far.
Baird will compete in the 400 metres semifinal today in heat one out of lane four while Sheniece Daphness will start her campaign today as well in the female 200 metres.
