World U20 Championships: Day 1 Kitching, Bond & Lightfoot progress

2 August 2022

World U20 Championships: Day 1 Kitching, Bond & Lightfoot progress

After a long wait for Australia’s leading teenage athletes, competition got underway in Cali, Colombia this morning when the World U20 Championships kicked off. The six-day competition will see 55 Aussies, including 16 NSW athletes in action. Across the morning and afternoon sessions, three NSW athletes, Hayley Kitching, Connor Bond and Mitchell Lightfoot smoothly progressed to the next rounds.

In the women’s 800m Hayley Kitching faced a big challenge with three of the top-12 ranked athletes in her heat, including the favourite and only sub-2 minute athlete in the field, USA’s Juliette Whittaker. But it didn’t phase Hayley who placed third and progressed automatically into the semi-finals where 24 athletes will race for the 8 positions in the final. Hayley’s time of 2:05.4 was the third fastest amongst the 38 competitors.

Hayley was thrilled to be competing.

"I am super excited to be racing at the world stage, it's amazing to be in that position, it feels awesome to know that I can compete with these girls from all around the world. The 800 metre athletes this year are absolutely stars, so just go for it!! That's what I tell myself for the finals."

In the afternoon session, Maitland’s Mitchell Lightfoot coasted into the semi-finals with a strong performance in heat six of the 110m hurdles. Mitchell was second in his heat in 13.89. His 18th overall ranking means little as he eased up before the line, but he will need to be at his best in the semi to progress to the final.

The third athlete to progress was Connor Bond in the 100m. Not scheduled to compete in the 100m, he received a late call up when Calab Law opted to concentrate on the 200m. Connor made the most of his opportunity running in to a 1.2m/s wind clocking a brilliant 10.43, fractionally outside his best, but arguably his best ever performance. His time was also equal 3rd fastest ever time by an Aussie at the World Juniors. Connor was third in his heat, and ranked 20th overall, and progressed into the semi-finals tomorrow.

For NSW’s first athlete in action, Pat Cantlon, it was a tough introduction to championship racing placing 12th in his heat in 3:57.50, and missing progression to the final.

Also schedule to competed on day one, Nicola Hogg opted to by-pass the 3000m to concentrate on the 1500m, later in the program.

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW

Image: Hayley Kitching (image courtesy of Athletics Australia)