Australia’s two top 400-metre hurdlers Tristan Thomas and Brendan Cole will make their semifinal appearance at the World University Games.

Both Australian Institute of Sport athletes entered the Games in excellent form, having recently recorded personal bests in Osaka eight weeks ago. They expect to battle for the World University Games hurdles title with Belgium’s Michael Bultheel and Kazakhstan’s Viktor Leptikov.

The two Canberra residents cruised through to the semifinals with Cole taking out the heat in 51.45 seconds, and Thomas claiming second place in 52.26 seconds.

‘It was great. I warmed up well and have had a close to perfect preparation in the last week. Nice and relaxed and just enjoying the village,’ said Cole, who is competing at his first major meet since the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games.

‘It was pretty windy down the back which made 13’s really hard, then once I stuffed hurdle six and Brendan came through I thought you can have it. I didn’t want to fight for first place,’ said Thomas.

Thomas’s best time this season is 48.68 seconds, two seconds quicker than the other runners in his semifinal heat.