Seyni, Ofili & Masilingi lead African 200m onslaught in Oregon
After running a staggering Niger Republic record of 21.98s to win her 200m heat on Monday at the ongoing 2022 World Athletics Championships, Aminatou Seyni will be hoping to improve on that time going up against the favourite, Jamaica's Shericka Jackson, in semifinal 1 of the women’s 200m on Tuesday.
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Seyni the reigning African champion, became the third African woman ever to run under 22s, joining an exclusive club that had only two women before: Namibia's Christine Mboma and Nigeria's Favour Ofili, who were the only athletes before her to achieve that feat.
If Seyni replicates her good form and tries to stay with Jackson coming out from the bend, she could earn an automatic spot into the final, or at least give herself a chance of progressing with the next best two times, which will see her become the first athlete from her country to make the final of a sprint event at the World Championships.
Both Gambia's Gina Bass and Nigeria's Rosemary Chukwuma who have been casualties of visa delays and arriving in the US just two days ago, have also been drawn in the same heat 1 as Seyni. Bass and Chukwuma would be glad they made it to semis considering the circumstances.
However, an extra day’s rest will do them some good, and there's no discounting anyone in a global semifinal. Chukwuma this season has run 22.33s, and although it might be difficult to replicate at the moment, but if she comes up a time close to that, she could be in with a chance.
Meanwhile in the absence of the more mercurial Mboma due to an injury, Beatrice Masilingi is keeping her country's flag hoisted in Eugene competing in the 200m. Masilingi was clearly in a much better shape than Jamaica's Elaine Thompson-Herah, winning their contest in 22.27s. Both athletes will meet again in heat 2 of the semifinals, and there will be Great Britain's Dina Asher-Smith to contend with, as would Nigeria's Grace Nwokocha who will be hoping for a good performance in her second semifinal appearance in Oregon.
Ofili might have qualified 2nd fastest overall in the heats, but she will have to be at her best to make it out of her semifinal heat. The Nigerian Record holder clocked 22.24s to win heat 6, chasing down Jenna Prandini down the home straight to win the race. This time, she will be going up against her NCAA rival, Abby Steiner who won the last match up between them at the NCAA championships.
Five-time 100m champion, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce will definitely be a threat, however it looked as if Ofili is destined to emerge unscathed, coming into the championships much more refreshed after the exhaustion of the NCAA season.
In the men's 200m, NCAA Champion Joseph Fahnbulleh should secure qualification through to the final. The Liberian will be making history for his country as their first global finalist in this event, but he will have to scale the hurdle of making it through the heat first, facing 100m champion Fred Kerley in heat 1.
South Africa's Sinesipho Dambile ran so well in the heats, running an equal Personal Best of 20.29s to finish 2nd behind Kerley, and the world U20 Bronze medallist will have to replicate that or run much faster to make it out of heat 1.
On his part, World U20 champion, Udodi Onwuzurike will be hoping to become the first Nigerian athlete to qualify for the 200m final since Uchenna Emedolu in 2003, going up in heat 3 against South Africa's Luxolo Adams who has run a PB of 19.83s this season. It will be a tough battle to get out from this heat, with defending champion, Noah Lyles also drawn in the heat and fired up for the occasion.
One event that should excited the fans and spectators tomorrow, is the men's 1500m final. Can Kenya's Timothy Cheruiyot successfully defend his title against Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen?
After seeing his countrywoman, Faith Kipyegon reclaim her 1500m crown, Cheruiyot would want to keep his Norwegian rival at bay, but it won't be just Ingebrigtsen whom he will be worried about, his countryman Abel Kipsang has run 3:31.01 this season, and is in a good form going into the final. It should be a mouthwatering contest.
Story by Charles Jerome
ATHLETICS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS BROADCAST DETAILS
Times are SA, CAT, GMT+2
20 July
Day 5 Afternoon Session | 01:50-05:10 | SS Variety 3
21 July
Day 6 Afternoon Session | 00:05-05:00 | SS Variety 3
22 July
Day 7 Afternoon Session | 01:45-05:15 | SS Variety 3
Day 8 Morning Session | 15:15-18:30 | SS Variety 3
23 July
Day 8 Afternoon Session | 01:55-05:20 | SS Variety 3
Day 9 Morning Session | 18:50-21:55 | SS Variety 3
24 July
Day 9 Afternoon Session | 01:10-05:35 | SS Variety 3
Day 10 Morning Session | 15:15-00:10 | SS Variety 3
