Odane Skeen qualifies for medal round in 100m

Jamaica's Odane Skeen and Britain's David Bolarinwa won their qualifying heats in the 100 metres at the inaugural Youth Olympics in Singapore yesterday, setting up a much anticipated final between two sprinters touted as the next Usain Bolt.



Skeen got out slowly but produced a fast finish to run 10.63 seconds, beating Thailand's Jirapong Meenapra.



Bolarinwa blew away the field in his heat, finishing in 10.62 seconds. The 16-year-old Bolarinwa has the fastest time this year among 16 and 17-year-olds, a 10.39 in London earlier this month.



Skeen, 15, ran 10.46 in Jamaica.



The final is scheduled for Saturday and Bolarinwa and Skeen will face each other for the first time.



In swimming, Jamaica’s Kendese Nangle failed to make the medal round in the girls’ 50-metre backstroke.



Nangle made it to the semifinals after she clocked 31.09 seconds for fifth place finish in Heat 1. However, she failed to advance out of the semifinal following sixth place finish in the opening semifinal.