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Ellina Mhlanga in NAIROBI, Kenya 

ZIMBABWE’S representatives at the World Athletics Under-20 Championships had a bad day on the track today as they both bowed out of the 200m women and men’s events in the first round at Kasarani Stadium.

In the women’s 200m Samkeliso Ndebele was disqualified for stepping on the line while Clinton Muunga did not finish the race after pulling a muscle.

It was just a bad day for the athletes.
Competing in Heat Two of the five heats in the women’s event, Ndebele had hoped to post a personal best and go beyond the first round but things didn’t go as she expected.

The first four from each heat and the next fastest four progressed to the semi-finals.

Namibia’s Beatrice Masilingi was first in the heat in 22.65 seconds.

On second place was Serbia’s Ivana Ilic in 23.71 seconds and Poland’s Marta Zimna was third in 23.95 seconds.

Sri Lanka’s Medhani Batuwanage was fourth with a time of 24.01 seconds.

The first four from this heat were joined by Czech Republic’s Tereza Lamacova who qualified as one of the next fastest four athletes with a time of 24.23 seconds.

In the men’s 200m Muunga pulled a muscle and could not continue the race and it was the end of the road for Zimbabwe who had just two athletes at this meet, running until Sunday.

Bryan Levell of Jamaica was first to cross the finish line in 20.90 seconds. He was followed by Uganda’s Tarsis Orogot in 21.28 seconds and Kenya’s Jonathan Wambua was third in a personal best time of 21.43 seconds.

Argentina’s Tomas Mondino was fourth in 21.50 seconds to complete the first four in the heat.