Cooper Sherman and Lachlan O’Keefe progress to next phase after impressive starts to U20 world champ campaign

It was a successful start for Ballarat’s Cooper Sherman and Lachlan O’Keefe in their first overseas competition. Find out how they performed.

It was the ideal start for St Patrick’s College’s Cooper Sherman and Lachlan O’Keefe as both made the next stage in their first international meet.

Competing for Australia at the World Athletics Under-20 Championships, O’Keefe made the final in the high jump as Sherman made the semis in the 400m.

O’Keefe impressed by clearing two jumps at 2m and 2.04, at the first attempt, to claim one of the 12 spots for the final.

While he didn’t clear the next height, 2.08m, he did enough with his previous jump to make it through.

Ballarat’s Lachlan O’Keefe has qualified for the final in the high jump at the World Athletics Under-20 Championships. Photo by Pedro Vilela/Getty Images

O’Keefe will now compete in the decider at 8.20am Melbourne time on Saturday.

Regardless of what he does the future bodes well for the Year 12 student.

The Ballarat jumper is the second youngest in the field to make the final and will be able to have another crack at the under-20 titles in future years.

Meanwhile Sherman was able to complete a personal best in the 400m heats, progressing to the semis with his time.

Cooper Sherman set a personal best in his 400m heat at the World Athletics Under-20 Championships. Photo by Pedro Vilela/Getty Images

The 18-year-old finished sixth in his heat with a time of 47.16 seconds, beating his previous mark of 47.2 seconds.

The position was good enough for the semis but Sherman now faces a tough test to make the final.

He’ll need to go almost a second, or a second and an half quicker, to finish in the top two in the semi to make the final.

The top two from each of the three semis will make the final, along with the next two fastest times.

Cooper Sherman will now have full focus on the semis after getting past the heats of the 400m. Photo by Pedro Vilela/Getty Images

Sherman will compete in the semis at 8.25am on Thursday.

You can watch both compete in the event on Kayo and Fox Sports.