Qualifiers for Sunday's men's final at the World University Modern Pentathlon Championships in Kladno get into celebration mode on the run-in ©UIPM

Poland’s Lukasz Gutkowski was top qualifier today at the Modern Pentathlon Junior World Championships in the Czech Republic as 76 athletes contested 36 places for the men’s individual final on Sunday (August 5). 

The Polish athlete accrued 1,149 points on the Kladno course, with South Korea’s Changwan Seo second on 1,144 and third place going to Vicente Lima of Argentina, who finished 10 points clear of Seo’s compatriot Sedong Kim.

Lurking dangerously in this International Modern Pentathlon Union event, with 1,128 points in fifth place, was Hungary’s Balázs Szép , winner of the bronze medal at the World Cup event in Los Angeles in April.

Two other qualifiers to watch - Italy’s bronze medallist of last year, Matteo Cicinelli, who finished 24th with 1,116 points, and Jean-Baptiste Mourcia of France, who is aiming to add to the mixed relay bronze he won in 2017 with Lisa Riff.

Competiition is due to continue tomorrow with the women’s individual final, for which event favourite  İlke Özyüksel of Turkey finished joint top qualifier with South Korea’s Sumin Yoo.

Last year’s silver medallist, Aurora Tognetti of Italy, is also among the 36 finalists.

The Championships conclude on Monday (August 6) with the mixed relay event.