MIDDLE-distance ace Malachi Austin ran a brilliant 400 metres dash at the World Athletics U20 Championship to take second place in his heat to advance to the semifinals in Lima Peru.
The national 400 metres men’s champion finished with the 8th best time of46.92 seconds, he was edged at the line by heat winner Japan’s Kentaro Shirahata who stopped the clock in 46.45 seconds, a new personal best for him.
Third place went to Trinidad and Tobago’s Jaden Clement with a time of 47.63 seconds.

Austin who boasts a personal best of 46.35 achieved this season will be hoping to convert his semifinal placement into a final showing for Guyana.
Meanwhile, Tianna Springer missed out on advancing by 1 hundredth of second in the women’s.
Springer running out of lane 6 came fourth place with a time of 54.49 seconds to be out the top three finishers for automatic qualifiers.
The time saw Springer finishing as the 25th best athlete in the event with the top 24 moving on, the 24th best finisher having a time of 54.48 seconds.

The heat was won by Italian Elisa Valensin in 53.82 seconds with Slovenian Karolina Zvicajnik second and Australian Ameila Rowe third in 54.10 seconds.
In the other Women’s 400 metres event Narissa McPherson missed out on qualifying for the semifinal of the women’s 400 metres, as she came in sixth place with the top five advancing in a race won by Canadian Dianna Proctor.
She finished in 54.67 to be the 31st athlete with only the top 24 advancing to the semi- finals.