Trinidad and Tobago’s Jareem Richards and Jamaica’s Raheem Hayles have advanced to the semi-finals of the 400 metres at the World Indoor Championships in Toruń, Poland on March 20.

Competing in heat one, Richards, who won the event in 2022, finished second in 46.10 seconds. 

He led for the first 300 metres, but Brazil’s Matheus Lima surged late to take the win. Portugal’s Ericsson Tavares and Slovenia’s Lovro Mesec Košir finished third and fourth respectively and did not advance.

Richards returns to the track later on March 20 in semi-final two, where he is set to face Canada’s Christopher Morales Williams, one of the favourites for a medal. Morales Williams was the fastest qualifier from the heats, clocking 45.51 seconds. The race is scheduled for 3:51pm Eastern Caribbean time.

Meanwhile, Hayles also secured a second-place finish in heat two. He led through the opening stages, but the USA’s Chris Robinson took control of the race and won in 46.34 seconds, with Hayles finishing in 46.66 seconds.

Also in action was US Virgin Islands athlete Omar Simpson, who did not advance after finishing fourth in heat five. However, he recorded a personal best of 48.95 seconds.

Jamaica’s Delano Kennedy also impressed, clocking a personal best of 47.02 seconds in his heat.