Sokwakhana Zazini wins the 400m hurdles at the IAAF World U18 Championships Nairobi 2017 (© Getty Images)
Pre-race favourite Sokwakhana Zazini hit it hard from the start, dominating the boys' 400m hurdles final with a spectacular performance at the IAAF World U18 Championships Nairobi 2017 on Saturday night.
Holding the world youth best of 48.84, which he set back in March, Zazini went unchallenged and stormed across the line in 49.27, the third-fastest time in World U18 Championships history.
He finished well clear of Kenya's Moitalel Naadokila who grabbed the silver medal in a personal best of 52.06 to the delight of a large home crowd.
Baptiste Christophe of France took bronze in 52.21, and he too set a career record to earn his place on the podium.
“I feel great because I've really been looking forward to this moment, and now it has come. I'm really happy,” Zazini said.
"It didn't go exactly as planned because I had to change (my lead leg) but I couldn't. I don't know what happened.
"I wanted to break the world best again, but it's fine. I'll take it."
Wesley Botton for the IAAF
