JOHANNESBURG – South Africa had an unlucky second day at the IAAF World Under-20 Championships in Tampere, Finland after Kyle Blignaut’s shot put gold on the opening night on Tuesday.
Sprinter Thembo Monareng and women’s shot-putter Meike Strydom both featured in finals during yesterday’s evening session.
Both narrowly missed out on medals with Monareng stopping the clock just 0.01s short of the bronze medal in the men’s 100m final.
Monareng was fast out of the blocks but was pipped at the line with Indonesia’s Lalu Muhammad Zohiri winning with a time of 10.18 seconds.
The second and third place was decided on a photo finish with American Schwartz claiming silver with compatriot Eric Harrison bagging bronze with both clocking 10.22.
Monareng had to be content with a fourth-place finish with a time of 10.23.
So close!!! Thembo Monareng takes fourth place in a very tight men's 100m final in 10.23. Well run young man! 👏 #Tampere2018
— Athletics_SA (@AthleticsSA_) July 11, 2018
Strydom finished fifth in the shot put final with a best effort of 15.89m with New Zealand athlete Madison-Lee Wesche winning with 17.09m.
Burley teenager Blignaut smashed his national junior record with a fifth-round heave of 22.07 metres to claim the victory on the first day of the championships.
The pre-competition favourite sent out a warning shot in the opening round, taking the lead with a throw of 20.89m before further strengthening his grip of the gold with a second effort of 21.12m.
He briefly slipped into second place when Adrian Piperi of the United States launched a 22.06m heave in the fifth round.
The South African hit back in the same round improving his national junior record by 42 centimetres.
Neither Blignaut, nor Piperi improved on their best in the final round with the South African claiming the gold.
Zeney van der Walt has taken a convincing victory in her 400m hurdles heat in 57.78, booking her place in tomorrow's semi-finals #Tampere2018
— Athletics_SA (@AthleticsSA_) July 11, 2018
During the morning session of the second day, world youth champion Zeney van der Walt coasted through to the women’s 400m hurdles semi-final posting the fastest time of the heats clocking 57.78 seconds.
The South African junior record holder came into the championships as the overwhelming favourite, courtesy of her personal best time of 55.05.
One-lap sprinter Gabriel Louw advanced to the 400m semi-final finishing second in his heat with a time of 47.32. Pole vaulter Valco van Wyk cleared 5.20m to book his place in Saturday’s final.
WHAT AN INCREDIBLE COMPETITION
Kyle Blignaut takes gold in the men's shot put by a mere centimetre over Adrian Piperi #IAAFworlds pic.twitter.com/34RMAE2bTJ
— IAAF (@iaaforg) July 10, 2018