HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam will send two representatives to the International Association of Athletics Federation World U18 Championship in Kenya this week.

Cao Võ Ngọc Long will compete in the boys’ high jump and Lê Thị Hồng Hân will take part in the girls’ 400m hurdle event.

Long secured his berth at the world tournament after his 2.05m jump to win a gold medal at the second Asian Youth Athletics Championships’ high jump event in Thailand in May. Hân finished second at the same tournament with a timing of 60.66sec.

Long, who has a personal and seasonal best of 2.10m, will be up against 10 rivals. Among competitors, Poole Breyton of France has the highest career record of 2.18m. Long has the second best. Other rivals with high results are German Bender Devon, Ihenetu Chimea and Sztandur Piotr of Poland, all of who have reached 2.08m.

Hân is in a difficult event, as she will be competing with 22 runners.

The top candidate is Walker Sanique of Jamaica, who ran 57.20sec as her personal best. Other favourites are Van Der Walt Zeney (57.94) and Morake Gontse (58.21), both from South Africa.

Hân is No 14 in the ranking.

Việt Nam have five athletes who have qualified for the world championship; however, due to the shortage of cash only two are being sent to Kenya.

The 10th edition of the biennial event, which will take place in Nairobi this year, will be organised from July 12 to July 16. More than 800 athletes from 131 countries and territories will vie for medals. They will compete in 40 events. — VNS