Canada sets new U20 record in 4x400m final at World Junior Championships

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Xahria Santiago, Aurora Rynda, Ashlan Best and Sharelle Samuel set a new Canadian U20 record in the final event of the IAAF Championships. The women ran 3:31.93, just edging out the former Canadian record of 3:32.25 from the 2016 World Junior Championships in Poland. 

For Santiago the 4x400m final was her fifth race of the meet, as she had already competed in heats, semi-finals and finals in the 4oom hurdles. For Best, the relay final was her seventh race of the meet. Best raced both the 400m and 200m before the relay competition.

RELATED: Chau runs gutsy semi-final at World Junior Championships

OFSAA record holder Jocelyn Chau ran strong in the 1,500m final. Chau was coming off  a hard-run semi-final where she took control of the race and led her heat to a shocking three personal bests, and eight qualifiers for the final. Chau finished ninth in 4:18.56.

ONE would have sufficed! ?

Rogers of ?? threw the ? out to 64.90m in her first attempt, an out-of-reach mark for her competition today!

WORLD U20 CHAMPION! ?

? for Rogers ??, ? for Wilson ??, ? for Martínez ??!#IAAFworlds pic.twitter.com/fkWLbjNiWA

— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) July 14, 2018

Steeplechaser Alex Drover of Kingston, Ont. finished in 12th in the men’s 3,000m steeplechase final. Drover had a collision in the semi-final but still managed to run a personal best and qualify for the final Sunday morning. 

In the women’s 100m hurdles, Kendra Leger was seventh in a time of 13.68. 

RELATED: Misener-Daley and Stewart-Baynes advance to World Junior 400m final

This is one of Canada’s most successful U20 World Junior Championships to date. In the hammer throw, Cameron Rogers of Burnaby, B.C. was the sole Canadian medal, but in the running events alone, 14 Canadians and one relay team qualified for the final of their events. Having a major championship final under their belts will serve these Canadian runners well as they continue in their athletic careers. 

Over the course of the meet, there were upwards of 80 new U20 national records set. If this year’s championship is any indication, the future of Canadian and international track and field is very bright.