LIMA, Peru— Jamaican hurdler Richard Hall has qualified for the 110m hurdles final at the World Athletics Under-20 Championships in Lima, Peru. Hall delivered a strong performance in his semi-final race, finishing second with a time of 13.44 seconds (-0.6m/s), securing his place in the highly anticipated final.
Hall narrowly trailed behind American athlete JaKobe Tharpe, who clocked an impressive World Under-20 leading time of 13.11 seconds. Despite the challenging conditions, Hall’s determination shone through.
Speaking to the Jamaican media, Hall expressed a mix of emotions about his semi-final run, recognizing that his time was faster than his initial round’s 13.58 seconds but acknowledging that it was not as smooth as he had hoped. “It’s a great feeling, you know, I am going out there, I’m going to represent,” said Hall, who also noted the impact of the unexpectedly cold temperatures on his performance. “It’s a bit colder out there, but, you know, nevertheless I came through and made it to the finals.”
Unfortunately, Daniel Beckford, another Jamaican competitor, did not advance to the final. Beckford, who had progressed through the first round on time, finished sixth in his semi-final race with a time of 13.80 seconds (0.7m/s).
As Hall prepares for the final, the eyes of Jamaica and the global athletics community will be on him, hoping he can bring glory to his nation. Hall’s remarkable journey in the competition thus far has inspired many aspiring athletes and serves as a testament to his talent and resilience.
