British sprinter Jake O’Day-Jordan A valuable lesson was learned at Friday’s European Athletics U-18 Championships: the race isn’t really over until you cross the finish line.
The 16-year-old finished fourth in the first round of the boys’ 200m sprint despite leading by a comfortable margin.
Jake O’Day-Jordan competes in the men’s 200 metres during day two of the 2024 European Athletics U-18 Championships in Banska Bystrica, Slovakia on July 19, 2024. (Yuri Kodrun/Getty Images, Courtesy of European Athletics)
“He showed us a great run. Young Englishman “This is truly phenomenal,” the race announcer said as he rounded the track’s first corner.
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But at that moment, O’Day-Jordan slowed down well before the finish line and seemed comfortable with her large lead. The young sprinter could even look left and right to see exactly how far behind her rivals were.
The answer was, not far off.
“He’s slowing down? What happened?” asked an astonished announcer as O’Day-Jordan appeared to come to a near halt just 50 meters before the finish line. “What happened there?”
Jake O’Day Jordan slowed his pace well before the finish line and seemed comfortable with his large lead. (Yuri Kodrun/Getty Images, Courtesy of European Athletics)
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“It was a total disaster,” added another announcer. “He slowed down too soon and let half the runners pass him before the finish line. He had a great sprint in the 150 meters but this is going to be a very hard lesson for him.”
O’Day Jordan finished fourth in an official time of 22.12 and was eliminated in the 200 meters.
“It’s OK. It’s my fault so I can’t be sad about anyone but myself,” he said after the game. From GBnews.com “Sure, it could have been under 21 seconds, but that’s a good thing.”
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Diego Nappi will compete in the men’s 200 metres at the European Athletics U-18 Championships in Slovakia on 20 July 2024. (Yuri Kodrun/Getty Images, Courtesy of European Athletics)
Diego Nappi from Italy He took first place in the men’s 200 meters on Sunday with an official time of 20.81 seconds, winning the gold medal.
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