Record-breaking runs from Thomas Coman saw the Tipperary man qualify for the semi-finals of the 400 metres at the World Junior Athletics Championships in Annecy, France, yesterday.

In a line-up which should have left him finishing an also-ran, Coman came second to top American Andrew Pierce in an Irish junior record time of 47.14 seconds.

But Paul Opperman fell victim to inexperience over the same distance. Racing in the outside lane, he left himself with too much to do too and finished fifth in 47.81 seconds.