Sam Baird, left, wins this year's Maryborough Gift. He's on his way to championships in Ukraine. FILE PHOTO.
SAM Baird has run his way into the World Youth Track and Field Championships in the Ukraine in July.
The Ballarat 17-year-old secured a place in the Australian team with his second 400m qualifying time in the Perth Track Classic.
The National Athletic Series meet was Baird's last opportunity to run the second sub 58.2-second 400m he needed, with Australian Athletics setting today as the deadline to meet selection criteria.
He received an invitation to run in the classic after winning the national under-18 title in a personal best 47.78 at the Australian junior championships on Perth on Wednesday.
Baird shocked himself with a 47.29 in finishing fourth to Sudan's Yousif.