BYDGOSZCZ, Poland - Mohammed Ahmed of St. Catharines, Ont., finished ninth in a personal best time in the men's 10,000 metre final on Wednesday at the world junior track and field championships.
In the men's 10,000 final, Josphat Kipkoech Bett led Kenya to a 1-2 finish clocking a championship record 27 minutes and 30.85 seconds. Titus Kipjumba Mbishei was second in 27:31.65 and Ibrahim Jeilan of Ethiopia third in 28:07.98.
Ahmed, who started running competitively three years ago, clocked 30:03.53 nearly breaking the magic 30 minute barrier.
''An absolutely great race for me,'' said Ahmed, 17. ''I came here and did exactly what I wanted to do. I felt I pretty much I even-lapped the race and in the second half I gained a few placings. I'm hopeful I can go under 30 minutes at the national junior championships.''
Nyjal Majock of Calgary was 11th in a personal best 30:13.42.
In the men's 400-metre semifinals, Tyler Daniel Harper of Brampton, Ont., qualified for Thursday's final clocking a personal best 46.81 seconds, the fifth fastest time overall.
''My original goal was to make the final and I have a new goal now to make the podium,'' said Harper. ''If I just keep doing what I'm doing I think it is possible.''
In the women's pole vault, Ariane Beaumont-Courteau of Montreal qualified for Friday's final placing sixth in her group.
Sarah Wells of Unionville, Ont., won her opening heat in the women's 400 hurdles to advance to Thursday's semifinals clocking 58.89, the fifth fastest time overall.
All other Canadian semifinalists were eliminated: Olivier Collin of St-Lazare, Que., in the men's 800, Natalie Geiger of Stouffville, Ont., (who posted a personal best 54.50) and Alyssa Johnson of Winnipeg in the women's 400 and Jessica Parry of London, Ont., (in a personal best 2:06.72) in the 800.
''The goal was to make the final but I'm still pretty happy with my race,'' said Parry, 17, who lowered her Canadian youth record. ''It was a sprint to the finish and I was still feeling the effects from yesterday's preliminaries. I felt I ran a very smart race.''
Competition continues Thursday.
Full results at IAAF.org.
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