World record holder Amusan breeze into the women's 100m hurdles semi final

...Records joint fifth fast qualifying time with Masai Russell

...Ajayi, Okon in search of slots in men's 100m, as Okezie, Ogazi begins Tokyo expedition today 

By Maxwell Kumoye 

 

 

 

Women's world record holder Tobi Amusan comfortably cruised into the semi final of the 100m on Sunday morning in Tokyo, Japan at the ongoing World Athletics Championships.

Running in the final heat of the race, Amusan produced a quick start off the block that included heavyweights like Devynne Charlton and Elena Carraro to finish in 12.53s without dropping a sweat.

Devynne Charlton came second in 12.69s and Elena Carraro in 12.86s which was enough to see them through to the semi final of Monday.

Amusan's timing was the 5th fastest in the six heats on Sunday morning. Jamaica's Danielle Williams topped with her 12.40s in heat 2 ahead of Grace Stark in 12.46s, Nadine Visser 12.48s and Pia Skrzyszowska 12.51s.

Masai Russell, running in heat 1 also stopped the clock the same time as Tobi Amusan.

“It was a very comfortable race. I have not raced in two weeks so it was about getting back into form. This season is testament to the hard work I have been putting in since the beginning of the year. The goal is to add the world title to the Olympic gold,” Masai Russell, the US said after her race.

Jamaica Danielle Williams has this to say; “I told everybody who has asked me - the goal is not to defend a title, but to gain one. I can''t defend what I already have. I don''t have this one, I am trying to get it. I will run whatever [time] it takes to win.”

In the men's 100m semi final later today, all eyes and hopes of millions of athletics fans, lovers and stakeholders will be beamed on Nigeria's Kayinsola Ajayi as the row call for the first semi final is made.

Ajayi, who ran a stunning Season Best of 9.88s in the heat will face 4 other sub 10s sprinters. 

The imperial and impressive Noah Lyles, world number 2 in that distance, world number 3, Akani Simbine of South Africa, Lamont Marcell Jacobs, Britain's Jeremiah Azu and Ackeem Blake will certainly light up the Tokyo night sky.

Israel Okon who won his heat in 10.04s is in the midst of sprint predators in the third and final semi final.

Jamaica Oblique Seville will be the firm favourite along with Andre De Grasse, Courtney Lindsey, South Africa's Gift Leotlela who pushed Ajayi to the second spot in the heat, Letsile from Botswana and Abdul-Rasheed Saminu who will spice it up with the Ghana - Nigeria jollof series.

Meanwhile, two other members of Team Nigeria will be in action in the men's 400m today.

Chidi Okezie, has a big battle with Cooper Sherman of the USA and Jamaica's Bovel Mcpherson in heat 2. Okezie's Season Best of 44.98s is the shadow of 44.10s, what the leading man in heat 2 Matthew Hudson-Smith of Britain has recorded this year.

Another force in heat 2 is Botswana's Bayapo Ndori with an SB of 44.25s this season.

Samuel Ogazi, the World number 15th quarter miler this year with 44.43s Should be able to find his way out of heat 3 into the semi-final.