LIMA, Peru— Daniel Wright and Trevoy Smith progressed to the semi-finals of the men’s 400m hurdles after Wednesday’s opening round at the World Athletics Under 20 Championships in Lima, Peru.

Wright, the winner at the ISSA Boys’ Champs and the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) National Championships, won his heat in 51.42 seconds. Smith advanced on time after placing fourth in his heat with 52.15 seconds.

Wright, who is ranked sixth in the world entering the championships, got off to a fast start and led up to the sixth hurdle before being briefly overtaken by China’s Jinhwei Guo. However, Wright reasserted himself to finish first.

Meanwhile, Smith admitted to “making too many mistakes” in his race and expressed a desire to improve. He got his chance with a place in Friday’s semi-finals.

Smith had to push hard to secure a top-four finish in his race, which was won by South Africa’s Njabulo Mbatha in 51.42 seconds. Denmark’s Joel Von De Ahe, who ran a national Under 20 record of 51.80 seconds, and Mexico’s Maximilliano Nunez (52.09 seconds) finished second and third, respectively.

-Paul A Reid