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Boyd, Townsend Win Gold at World Juniors
July 14, 2008
BYDGOSZCZ, Poland - Freshmen Tiffany Townsend and Marcus Boyd claimed relay gold medals over the weekend on the final days of competition at the 12th IAAF World Junior Championships. Boyd, who claimed gold for the United States in the 400 meters on Thursday, ran the first leg for the Americans' 4x400-meter relay. Boyd set a personal record 45.53 in the open 400 meters, and clocked 45.7 out of the blocks to lead off the first-place relay. The United States won its fourth-straight title in the event, clocking a time of 3:03.86. "I'm thankful to get two medals this week," said Boyd. "I wasn't expecting them to both be gold. We were trying to get the world junior record, so we knew that we still needed to run fast even when we were in front." Townsend had a disappointing fifth-place finish in the women's 200 meters after entering the competition with the field's fastest time, but anchored the U.S. women's team to a winning time in its preliminary heat with a mark of 43.76. On the final day of competition, Townsend again anchored the Americans to the day's fastest time, 43.66, to win their third-straight gold medal in the event. "It feels great to win a gold medal as the anchor on the 4x1," said Townsend. "It feels better because I didn't have a good race in the 200-meter finals. At the exchange I knew somebody was with me, but I just knew I had to run and help us get the win." The 4x400-meter relay final marks the end of the 12th IAAF World Junior Championships. Baylor will continue to have student-athletes compete this summer as a select group will travel to Toluca, Mexico for the 2008 NACAC Under-23 Track and Field Championships on July 18-20.
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