Tiffany James made history after winning the women’s 400 metres at the IAAF Under-20 Championships on Thursday, July 21, 2016, to become the first Jamaican female 400m World Junior Champion in Bydgoszcz, Poland.
19-year-old James, the national junior champion, who lowered her month old personal best from 52.06 seconds to a sparkling 51.77 seconds to win her semi-finals lowered it again in the final, clocked 51.32; the fastest time in the world by an U-20 athlete this year.
“I was very nervous,” she said. “I knew I had to go out hard, so I did.”
She won the race ahead of America’s Lynna Irby (51.39). Jamaica’s former Junior champion Junelle Bromfield finished in third in 52.05.
“This medal means a lot to me,” Bromfield said. “After the disappointment last year in Cali, this year it was my goal to win a medal here.”
The gold and silver by the both ladies, respectively, are the first medals of the championships for Team Jamaica. Watch their post-race interviews.
Tiffany James post-race interview
Junelle Bromfield post-race interview
