Whelpton qualifies for world indoor athletics championships 60m semifinal

New Zealand sprinter Tiaan Whelpton has qualified automatically for the World Indoor Athletics Championships 60m semifinal with a time of 6.62 seconds tonight.

Whelpton, in heat seven of eight in Nanjing, China, came second behind Australian Lachlan Kennedy.

Kennedy, a 21-year-old in his first indoor race, finished in 6.52secs.

Whelpton's time was outside his 6.50secs which he recorded outdoors in Canberra this year. That time qualified him automatically for the world indoor championships. He was also beaten in that race by Kennedy.

Kennedy, in lane four tonight, got off to an excellent start, with the taller Whelpton, outside him in lane five, taking slightly longer to react and get into his stride.

The fastest qualifer was Eloy Benitez from Puerto Rico, who set a national record of 6.49secs in his heat.

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Whelpton recently ran a 10.10secs 100m in Auckland, the fastest ever recorded by a Kiwi in New Zealand.