Kaua’i surfers Bethany Hamilton (pictured above) and Leila Hurst advanced to the quarterfinals of the girls division of the Billabong World Junior Championships today at Sydney, Australia.

The first, second and third rounds were run in 2- to 3-foot waves at North Narrabeen beach.

Hamilton, who had her left arm severed in a shark attack off Kaua’i in 2003, defeated California’s Sage Erickson in the third round, 12.33-10.5.

Hamilton, 18, is scheduled to face Australia¹s top seed, Laura Enever, in the quarterfinals.

Hurst upset Hawai’i¹s top seed, Coco Ho of Sunset Beach, in the third round. Hurst received a score of 8.83 in the closing minutes of the heat to clinch

the victory.

Hurst finished with a two-wave score of 13.66 to top Ho’s total of 11.10. Hurst, 15, is scheduled to face Brazil’s Diana Cristina in the quarterfinals.

“The conditions were windy and I was looking for the lefts, as they were the better waves running to the shore,” Hurst said. “The lead changed between Coco and myself about five times. I have become much more confident now and I would love to make the final, but at least the semis. That’s my goal.”

Carissa Moore of Honolulu is not entered in the contest due to school commitments.

The contest is considered the world championship for surfers age 20 and younger.

The boys division did not run heats today. Hawai’i surfers in the boys division are Tonino Benson, Kiron Jabour, Granger Larsen, Dusty Payne, Casey Brown, Kai Barger and Sebastian Zietz.

(Source: Honolulu Star-Bulletin)