Raymond Graham, Star Writer

Jaheel Hyde

EUGENE, Oregon:

Last year's World Youth champion in the 110 metres hurdles, Jaheel Hyde, is poised to give Jamaica their first medal at the IAAF World Junior Championships in Eugene, Oregon.

Hyde, now competing in the 400m hurdles, had an effortless win in his semi-final.

With his parents, Angella Hussett and Lenworth Hyde cheering him on from the stands, Hyde looked very smooth and relaxed even easing up after the final barrier to win his heat in 50.77 seconds, ahead of Jose Luis Gaspar of Cuba, 51.37.

Saving all for tomorrow

Hyde who will run out of lane five in today's final at 9:35 p.m Jamaica time is very confident of going all the way.

"This is only the semi-final, but I came out and did what I had to do. I didn't want to do a lot today as I am saving all for tomorrow," said Hyde.

In tonight's final, Hyde will not have things that easy. The fastest qualifier, Ali Khamis from Bahrain, defeated Hyde in the first round on Tuesday and he posted 49.93 while American Tim Holmes won his semi-final heat in 50.80. Jamaica's Okeem Williams trailed in eighth and last in his semi-final in 56.37.

Geneekee Leith, Jamaica's only entrant in the women's 400m hurdles, advanced to today's semi-final after finishing second in her heat in 59.59 seconds, behind Tia Adana Belle of Barbados who posted 59.05.

At press time, four Jamaicans were down to contest last night's 200m semi-finals. Both Michael O'Hara and Jevaughn Minzie, who both failed to reach the final of the 100m were first and second respectively in their 200m heats.

O'Hara, the second fastest qualifier, won his heat in 20.62 while Minzie was second in his heat in 20.84 seconds.

Natalliah Whyte won her heat in 23.48 to advance while Kedesha Dallas is out after placing fourth in her heat in 24.46.

In women's discus Shanice Love had three no-throws while Shadae Lawrence, despite doing a personal best of 48.44m, failed to move forward. Triple jumper Tamara Moncrieffe is also out. She had a best of 12.92m.

High jumpers Christoffe Bryan (2.14m) and Clayton Brown (2.10m) will contest the final slated for 9:05 p.m. today.