The Nigerian duo of Favour Ofili and Alaba Akintola have crashed out of the 200-meter women’s and men’s events at the ongoing World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
The 20-year-old African indoor record holder, Ofili, finished sixth in Heat 3 of the semifinals on Thursday evening to put an end to her participation in the event. Akintola, on the other hand, finished seventh in Heat 2 of the men’s semifinals.
Ofili ran a time of 22.86 seconds to finish behind five other athletes and just ahead of The Gambia’s Gina Bass, who finished seventh.
The reigning world champion in the women’s 200m event, Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson finished first with a time of 22 minutes to qualify for the finals, alongside ShaCarri Richardson (22.20 seconds), who recently won the 100-meter event, and Ivory Coast’s Marie-Josee Ta Lou, who finished in third with a season-best time of 22.26 seconds to be the only African that will be present in the finals.
In the other semifinal heat, United States Gabrielle Thomas finished as the only athlete that ran under 22 seconds with a time of 21.97 seconds, while Great Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith followed her in second with 22.28 seconds as the only qualifier from Heat One.
In Heat 2, Saint Lucia’s Julien Alfred topped the rest to progress in a time of 22.17 seconds, with Great Britain’s 26-year-old star Daryll Neita following in second with a personal best time of 22.21 seconds, and Bahamian sprinter Anthonique Strachan (22.30 seconds) finishing in third to complete the list of athletes that will compete for this year’s gold medal.
In the men’s event, two-time world silver medallist Kenny Bednarrek topped Heat 2 as he clocked 19.96 seconds while Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo, who won the the silver medal in the 100m men’s event, finished in second in 19.97 seconds.
Both Favour Ofili and Alaba Akintola will return to action in the 4x100m relay events in both the men’s and women’s categories.
The final of the men’s and women’s 200m events will go down on Friday, August 25, at the National Athletics Centre.
