Sprinters Clarence Munyai and Gift Leotlela will line up among the favourites for the men’s 200m title at the World U-20 Championships, after dominating the heats and semifinals in Bydgoszcz, Poland on Thursday.
The duo from TuksSport High School in Pretoria, who will represent South Africa at the Rio Olympics next month, coasted to victory in their respective half-lap races on day three of the global age group showpiece, progressing as the fastest two athletes.
Munyai clocked 20.40 in the opening round in the morning session, and later eased off near the end of his semifinal to cross the line in 20.54.
Leotlela, who finished fourth in the 100m final the night before, produced times of 20.63 and 20.58, also coasting into the medal contest to be held on Friday evening.
In other races during the evening session, Tamzin Thomas and Gezelle Magerman were eliminated in the penultimate round of their specialist events.
Thomas finished sixth in her 100m semifinal in 11.71 and Magerman, who won gold at the 2014 Youth Olympics, ended fourth in her 400m hurdles race in 58.76.
Earlier, in the morning session, Kefilwe Mogawane cruised to a convincing victory in his 400m hurdles heat.
Mogawane set a personal best of 50.53 to book his spot in the semifinals on Friday night, progressing as the fastest qualifier for the penultimate round.
Schedule of SA athletes competing in the morning session on day four of the IAAF World U-20 Championships (Friday, 22 July):
9.30am – javelin throw qualification, men (Erich Wiese)
9.35am – 100m hurdles heats, women (Taylon Bieldt)
10.25am – 800m heats, men (George Kusche)
10.50am – javelin throw qualification, men (Johan Grobler)
Noon – 200m heats, women (Tamzin Thomas, Madia Ehlers)
* Results of all finals are available in our Results section