Heat 1
Yasser Lismet won the dip across the finish line from South Africa’s Louis van Zyl to win the first heat in 51.27 to van Zyl’s 51.30. Belgium’s Michael Butlheel ran a personal best of 51.46 to take the final automatic qualifying place in this heat, with the first three of each heat plus the 4 fastest losers going through to the semi-finals.
Heat 2
The Asian Junior champion, Saudi Arabia’s Ibrahim Al-Hamaidi dominated this heat finishing over a second ahead of second placer Wouter Le Roux from South Africa.
Al-Hamaidi eased up at the line, which he crossed in 50.02 seconds. Le Roux clocked 51.12 and he was followed across the line by Finland’s Teemu Linkosaari, who ran a personal best of 51.56 to take the third place.
Heat 3
The fastest junior in the world this year with a PB of 48.77 coming in to this race, USA’s Kerron Clement asserted himself from the first hurdle and kept the lead through to the last barrier, clearing this some ten metres ahead of Great Britain’s Richard Davenport.
Looking totally relaxed, the American cruised over the line in an easy 50.10, Davenport followed in a personal best of 51.08 and Senegal’s El Hadji Sethe Mbow was third in 51.48 after recovering from a slow start.
Heat 4
USA junior champion Brandon Johnson followed in the tracks of his compatriot Kerron Clement as he ran away from the rest of the field in the fourth and final heat. Out fast, Johnson was already a clear leader by the second hurdle and heading the field by 20 metres by the home straight.
Totally outclassing the other contenders in this heat, Johnson finished in 50.11, with Venezuelan Victor Solarte in second place crossing the line in 51.96 seconds and the third finisher Diego Venancio clocking 52.02.
