Garrett and Jackson win five medals at World U20 title

The World Athletics U20 Championships concluded on Saturady (6-Aug) in Cali, Columbia.  Four athletes from USATF North Carolina compete in the championships winning a total of six medals.
  Akala Garrett (pictured above) of Charlotte won the 400m Hurdles gold medal in a time of 56.16.  The mark was a personal best by 1.12 seconds.  It also moved placed her on the following all-time lists:

☑️ #2 North Carolina High School all-time performer
☑️ #6 U.S. all-time high school performer
☑️ #40 World all-time U20 performer

She also won a gold medal running the anchor leg for Team USA's 4x400m relay.

 

---

IN THEIR WORDS - AKALA GARRETT

Words can’t explain how I feel about the past 10 days but I know that happy is a understatement.

I’ve made new friends, added more meaningful titles to my name and found my worth In the mist of it all! the 2 gold medals I received aren’t just any ordinary gold medals…I AM A 2x U20 WORLD CHAMPION.

I just want to thank everyone who supported me, Thank you to the ladies who ran the first round of the 4x4 so that me and the other ladies could finish the job in the finals.  Thank you to my USA teammates for keeping me calm through out the rounds, the energy was always positive. Thank you to Coach Collins (mom) as none of this would have been possible without you. You are a world champion as well because you had the game plan and I did it just how you said. I love you and we will forever be a dynamic duo. Thank you to Dr. Ward (my uncle who passed away), for dragging me around that track to victory. I know you’re so proud of me. Lastly I want to thank God for blessing me so much because he doesn’t have too. He always blesses me after times where I’ve wanted to give up to prove that I’m meant to be here to do something special and I am forever grateful.

To my first and definitely not my last world championship, Thank you!

---

 

Shanwti Jackson (pictued above) of Wake Forest won three medals; gold, silver, and bronze.  Individfually she won the bronze medal in the 100m running a personal best time of 11.15 in the finals.  She entered the competition with a personal best of 11.28; which she matched in the opening round heats.  In the semi-finals she lowered it to 11.16 and then in the fnals sliced another .01 seconds off.  Jackson won her gold medal running the third leg of the Team USA's 4x400m relay; where she handed off to Garrett.  In the 4x100m relay she won a silver medal running the second leg.  The team's time of 43.28 set a new U20 U.S. record and is #5 all-time.

Kaylyn Brown of Gastonia earned a gold medal in the 4x400m mixed relay.  Brown ran the the third leg in the heats.  The team's time of 3:18.65 set a championship record which was lowered in the finals

Desmond Coleman of Charlotte finished seventh in the men's discus with a new personal best of 60.43m (198-3).

John Hayes (Wake Forest University) and Jessica Riden (University of North Carolina) each served as staff members for Team USA.  Hayes was served as the Assistant Coach (Distance) for the men's team.  Riden was a team manager.

NORTH CAROLINA RESULTS SCOREBOARD

PLACE	NAME	EVENT	City, State	Performance
1	Akala Garrett	400m Hurdles	Charlotte, NC	56.16PB
1	Akala Garrett	4x400m Relay	Charlotte, NC	3:28.06
1	Shawnti Jackson	4x400m Relay	Gastonia, NC	43.28 U.S. U20 record
1	Kaylyn Brown	4x400m relay mixed - heats	Gastonia, NC	3:28.06
2	Shawnti Jackson	4x100m Relay	Gastonia, NC	43.28 U.S. U20 record
3	Shawnti Jackson	100m	Wake Forest, NC	11.15PB
7	Desmond Coleman	Discus - qualifications	Charlotte, NC	60.43m (198-3)PB
Q	Akala Garrett	400m Hurdles - heats	Charlotte, NC	58.40
Q	Akala Garrett	400m Hurdles - semifinal	Charlotte, NC	57.28PB
Q	Shawnti Jackson	100m - heats	Wake Forest, NC	11.28=PB
Q	Shawnti Jackson	100m - semifinal	Wake Forest, NC	11.16PB
Q	Desmond Coleman	Discus - qualifications	Charlotte, NC	59.79m
	John Hayes	Men's Assistant Coach (Distance)	Pfafftown, NC
	Jessica Riden	Event Manager	Carrboro, NC