47 Florida based athletes to compete at IAAF World Youth Championships 2015

by DrBob for DyeStat Florida

The 2015 IAAF World Youth Track and Field Championships (@WYCCali2015) are underway in Cali, Colombia.

IAAF President Lamine Diack, dignitaries and athletes to include Candace Hill and Khalifa St. Fort prior to the start of the 2015 IAAF World Youth Championships in Cali, Colombia (Getty Images)

Southridge junior Symone Mason will represent the United States in the 400m co-leading all youths with her 52.80 from the US Trials.  Symone will race out of lane 6 in the first of 7 heats of the Championships today, 15 July, at 13:40est.  The first 3 finishers automatically qualify followed by the next 3 fastest finishers.  Symone should fare well in the competition as she is tied for the fastest seed along with Bahrain's Salwa Eid Naser, also clocking 52.80.  The key will be to qualify easily in the opening round and garner a good lane for the ensuing rounds.

Creekside's Jordan Fields will represent the USA on her first World team after a stunning late season surge that saw her finish 2nd in the Heptathlon at New Balance Outdoors amongat all competitors.  Hordan next competed at the USA World Youth Trials scoring 5087 points to win the heptathlon and earn her first USA team birth.

Khalifa St. Fort will represent Trinidad and Tobago in the 100m.  Khalifa comes into the competition as one of the medal contenders after winning her national trials in 11.43.  Just like everyone else, Khalifa will be chasing USA's Candace Hill who has scorched all competion over the 100m the past 2 years.  Candace holds several records to include the World Junior record in 10.98 (+2.0) which she ran at the Brooks PR Invitational in Seattle. 

Khalifa is coached by NBC Sports commentator, former World Junior 100m/200m Champion and IAAF Ambassador, Ato Boldon.

VIDEO - Khalifa St. fort talks to the press prior to the start of the 2015 IAAF World Youth Championships

Everglades HS junior Jamal Walton will represent the Cayman Islands in the 400m.  Jamal's best time in 2015 is 46.16, April 25th at the Orange Bowl FLYTAF Invitational.  Jamal also won the Golden South Classic in 46.22 and will be looking to dip down below 46 in the competition.  Jamal races today 12:50est in the 3rd of 6 heats with the top 3 finishers qualifying automatically followed by the next 6 fastest times.