World Athletics Championships: Grace Nwokocha Qualifies For Women’s 100m Semis
Nigerian Champion Grace Nwokocha secured her spot in the Women’s 100m semi-finals at the ongoing World Athletics Championships in Oregon, clocking 11.16s just behind Olympic Champion Elaine Thompson-Herah, who finished in a time of 11.15s.
Zaynab Dosso placed 3rd, having returned a time of 11.26s.
Nigeria’s sole entrant in the women’s 100m Grace Nwokocha gave a good account of herself while racing in the heats on Day 2 of the World Championships in Oregon. This is Nwokocha’s second appearance at a global competition for Nigeria, having featured in last year’s Olympic Games in Tokyo where she made the semifinal.
Nwokocha has her work cut out for her ahead of the semis where she is to square off with Tokyo Olympics Bronze medallist Shericka Jackson; Doha 2019 Silver medallist Dina Asher-Smith, and African Championships Silver medallist Aminatou Seyni amongst others.
Nathaniel Advances to men’s 400m Hurdles semis at World Championships in Oregon
Making his first World Athletics appearance, Nigerian record-holder in the men’s 400m Hurdles Ezekiel Nathaniel started on a brilliant note clocking 49.64s to finish 3rd in his Heat, and automatically qualify for the semis on day 2 of the World Athletics Championship.
The Baylor University freshman competed in Heat 1 where he raced alongside Doha 2019 Silver medallist Rai Benjamin.
The American ran a smooth race to cross the line in 49.06s and seeing that he had already earned a qualification spot as they approached the home straight, Nathaniel shut down to finish 3rd in 49.64s as former continental champion Abdelmalik Lahoulou settled for 2nd in 49.58s.
Nathaniel is Nigeria’s first 400m hurdles athlete to qualify for the World Championships since Miles Ukaoma did so in Beijing in 2015. He broke Henry Amike’s 35-year-old record in the event back in April, racing to a new lifetime best of 48.42s. The Oregon Championships is his first outing for Nigeria at senior level.
Chidi Nwoke/Making of Champions/World Athletics.
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