Kyle Langford will bid for IAAF World Junior Championship glory in the early hours of tomorrow morning after qualifying for the final of the 800m in Oregon, USA.

The 18-year-old Watford athlete ran what the British Athletics website described as a “great tactical race” to finish in second in the first semi-final in a time of 1.48.76 and advance automatically.

Langford’s time was the sixth quickest overall of the eighth qualifiers – while four of the finalists have faster personal and season’s bests than the Shaftesbury Barnet Harrier – but these figures may not be of particular significance when it comes down to the final if it turns out to be another tactical race.

The 800m is the final individual event of the championships and it is due to get underway at 12.15am tomorrow, UK time.

The eight finalists, ranked by personal best times, are: Alfred Kipketer (Kenya – 1.45.67); Joshua Timpati Masikonde (Kenya – 1.45.85); Andreas Almgren (Sweden – 1.46.99); Jena Umar (Ethiopia – 1.47.00); Kyle Langford (Great Britain – 1.47.41); Thiago Andre (Brazil – 1.47.85); Tre’tez Kinnaird (USA – 1.47.99); Kalle Berglund (Sweden – 1.48.57).