Simone Du Toit of RSA during the Shot Put qualifications at the World Youth Championships (© Getty Images)
Maiju Mattila and Yana Panteleyeva were separated by only a single point after two events were completed on Friday afternoon at the IAAF/Maroc Telecom World Youth Championships in Marrakech
Although it is still very early in the competition to make predictions, the Finn with a tally of 1910 points and Russian, spiralled to the top of the placings tables after the 100 metres hurdles and high jump.
Rusia also has Tatyana Chernova second quickest of the morning in the high hurdles lying in third position with a score of 1875pts.
Mattila was in eighth position after the first discipline with Panteleyeva making an inconspicious beginning well down in 16th spot.
But high jump performances of 1.78 and 1.81 metres saw them assume pole position before the shot put and 200 metres events take place tonight.
The boys triple jump competition was of a high quality, 13 of the entrants beating the qualification standard of 15.10 metres.
Bulgaria's Zhivko Petkov produced the furthest distance in Group A with a leap of 15.82m while in the second group Hector Dairo Fuentes of Cuba led the way with a 15.80m clearance.
Simone du Toit after winning the discus silver medal on Thursday, was back on centre stage in the girls shot put.
The South African with a throw of 15.05m finished well clear of her nearest rivals who will be fighting for the gold medal. The USA's Kamorean Hayes threw 14.58m and Bo Li of China 14.47m.
Anna Bulgakova led the hammer qualifiers with a best effort of 59.07m. The Russian was followed by Bianca Perie of Romania (57.72m) and Hungary's Dora Levai who threw 56.28m.
