IAAF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
* Nathaniel qualifies for 400m hurdles semis
Duro Ikhazuagbe
Apart from Glory Onome Nathaniel who ran a new personal best of 55.30secs to qualify for the women’s 400m hurdles, there was nothing to cheer for all Nigerian athletes who were in action on Day 4 at the ongoing 16th IAAF World Championships at the Olympic Stadium in London.
Reigning African triple jump champion, Tosin Oke, failed to make the final of the men’s triple jump event at the Championships. The dismal 16.17m he jumped in yesterday’s qualification round was the worst performance from the former British junior international.
Oke, finalist at the 15th edition of the championships two years ago in Beijing, China will now watch the final as a spectator on Thursday night.
Also yesterday, the trio of Patience Okon George, Yinka Ajayi and Margaret Bamgbose all failed in their bids to make the final of the women’s 400m event.
While George ran 52.60secs to place 7th in the first semi final, Ajayi clocked 52.10 to place 6th in the second semi final. Bamgbose’s 52.23 placed her in the eight spot to complete a trio of bad outing for Team Nigeria in the women quarter mile.
The 400m that was predicted to raise another dust-up between Shaunae Miller-Uibo and Allyson Felix in the 400m final but 19-year-old Salwa Eid Nasser from Bahrain has put herself into medal contention after running down Felix in the home straight in the second semifinal, 50.08 and 50.12. Olympic champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo won the first semifinal in 50.36, switching off in the home straight.
Despite the poor outing for the quarter milers, the performance of Nathaniel in the 400m hurdles however raised some hope for the Nigerian officials at the championships.
Nathaniel thus has thus become the fifth Nigerian woman after Maria Usifo (1987), Omolade Akinremi (1995), Muizat Ajoke Odumosu (2009 and 2011) and Amaka Ogoegbunam (2009) to qualify for the semi-final of the event.
No Nigerian has made it to the final of the event in the history of the championships.
