CALI, Colombia – Kobe Lawrence drew on his experiences of a year ago in Nairobi to advance to the finals of the shot put on day one of the World Athletics Under-20 Championships which got going in Cali, Colombia on Monday.

Lawrence was second in Group B with a best of 19.85m behind Tizian Lauria of Germany who had the best throw going into the final with 20.15m.

Having made his Under-20 debut in Kenya last year and having learned from that experience, Lawrence used it to is advantage to safely advance to Tuesday’s final.

“I am okay with the performance,” said Lawrence after his 19.85m throw.

Unlike last year when he was happy to make the final, the Calabar High school student has his sights on doing much better this time around.

“I am really grateful, I have to thank God. I am going to come back out here and do the job in the finals,” he said.

It has been challenging in this particular discipline for Lawrence who is grateful for a chance to challenge for a place on the podium.

“The shot put has been really rough this season, so to come out here and qualify, I am really grateful,” he confessed.

The 18-year-old is happy to have done better than last year.

“I did better than last year so I have to be grateful. Last year I was younger but now that I have the experience, I came out here and executed so I am happy with what I did.”

Lawrence, who has the second-best throw going into the final, promised to rest and recover in time to push for medal Tuesday.

“I am going to go home, get some food, get some rest and come back, stay focused and execute tomorrow.”

His teammate, Christopher Young, who threw as part of Group A, was not so lucky and failed to advance to the final.