Sprinter Tarsis Orogot stormed the 200m final in a National Record time at the ongoing World Junior Athletics championship in Kenya.
The Ugandan youngster came second in a time of 20:37 in a semifinal heat won by Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo who also achieved a personal best time (20:31).
Orogot erases a 23-year old record that was set by Moses Mila Mayat when he clocked 20.63 on March 27 1998 at the All Africa Invitational in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Earlier on Friday morning, Orogot came through the heats to semis when he finished second with a time of 21:28.
Its a big milestone for Orogot who earlier missed a place in the 100m final. The youngster also holds the country’s National record in 100m (10:35).
Orogot will be pushing for a place in the medal bracket come Saturday’s final at 6:10pm.
He will be in lane four in a tough field that also has 100m champion at the event Tebogo (Botswana), Udodi Chudi (Nigeria) and Sinesipho Dambile (South Africa).
Elphas Torotoich Ndiwa was fourth in heat one (9:05.41) while Leonard Chemutai (8:42.71) came third in heat two as both Ugandans stormed the final of the Men’s 3000m SC final due Sunday at 4:05pm.
Saturday will see Peter Maru return to action in the Men’s 1500m final at 4:30pm.
