Prime Minister Congratulates Junior Athletes

As the Jamaican medals accumulate at the 11th International Association of Athletics Federations (I.A.A.F) World Junior Championship which was held in Beijing, China from August 15 to 20, Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller has congratulated the young athletes on their performance.
In a statement on August 18, Mrs. Simpson Miller said, “Whether it’s juniors or seniors, Jamaican athletes continue to perform with distinction at world events. This time it’s the 11th I.A.A.F World Junior Championship.”
The Prime Minister further extended hearty congratulations to Kaliese Spencer on “her scintillating victory in the women’s 400 metre hurdles. In winning the nation’s first gold medal at the championship, she also became the first Jamaican to win this event at a junior world championship. I am further moved by the fact that Kaliese also set a national junior record of 55.11 while leading home her team-mate and bronze medal winner, Sherene Pinnock, who clocked 56.67, a personal best for her as well”.
Mrs. Simpson Miller noted that with Deon Hemmings blazing a trail in this event at the senior level, 10 years ago, Jamaica had now established a rich tradition in the 400 metre hurdles for women. “Congratulations are also in order for Sonita Sutherland, who posted a time of 51.42 for the silver medal in the women’s flat 400 metre. Yohan Blake’s bronze in the men’s 100 metre and Carrie Russell’s bronze in the women’s equivalent yesterday, have given Jamaica a total of five medals so far,” she stated.
“Well done to you all! And on a day when we celebrated the anniversary of the birth of our National Hero, Marcus Mosiah Garvey, may we continue to remember his words in China, ‘Up! Up! Ye mighty race, accomplish what you will’ “.