Athletics-Triumvirate keeps women’s 400m hurdles on track

TOKYO, July 31 (Reuters) – World champion Dalilah Muhammad, world record holder Sydney McLaughlin and European indoor champion Femke Bol stayed on track for a thrilling Olympic clash in the then women’s 400-meter hurdles. as athletics entered the second day of competitions in Tokyo.

It was another busy morning running, jumping and throwing at the oval-shaped Olympic Stadium on a sweltering day, although a bit of cloud cover provided some respite for athletes and those in attendance as and when the session was progressing.

Before the day’s competition started, there was bad news for Nigerian sprinter and 2008 Olympic long jump silver medalist Blessing Okagbare, who withdrew from the Tokyo Games after failing a doping test. Read more

Muhammad, McLaughlin and Bol weren’t bothered by the hot and humid conditions and pulled off their heats to safely advance to Monday’s semi-finals, boosting morale following the exit of Okagbare, who was scheduled to compete in the 100m semi-finals later.

Also qualifying American Kendra Harrison has a chance to become the first world record holder to win Olympic gold in the women’s 100-meter hurdles since Bulgarian Yordanka Donkova triumphed at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

Motivation will not be lacking for the 28-year-old.

Harrison failed to stand out in the US Olympic Trials for the Rio 2016 Games, but a few weeks later she set the world record of 12.20 in London.

“I’m just trying not to stress the word Olympics and try to take it the way I do every game, not put pressure on myself and just give it everything I have,” he said. she said, adding that lack of fans in the stands didn’t bother her.

“When you’re aligned with the best in the world, that in itself is enough to keep me going and keeping that competitive edge.”

Dorian Keletela is also fortunate to be among the best sprinters in the world and the refugee Olympic team athlete did not disappoint.

The 22-year-old, from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, clocked a personal best 10.33 to advance to the next round of the men’s 100m as the blue stripe event began its post-Usain era Bolt at the Olympics.

“No matter how many difficulties you face, you have to believe in what you are doing and when you do, you can do anything whether you are a refugee or not,” Keletela said.

The contenders for the men’s 800m also reached the semi-finals without a hitch, with the event set to crown a new winner in Tokyo for the first time since 2012, after injuries to two-time Olympic gold medalist David Rudisha of Kenya. prevented him from entering.

The men’s pole vault also started without Sam Kendricks after the US world champion was ruled out due to COVID-19.

“It’s so sad because Sam was in really good shape and he always jumps high at the championships, so basically there is a free medal spot now,” said world record holder Armand ‘Mondo’ Duplantis of Sweden after sailing to Tuesday’s final.

Reigning Olympic champion Thiago Braz also qualified but Frenchman Renaud Lavillenie, 2012 Olympic champion, struggled and failed in his first two attempts to clear 5.50m.

Lavillenie managed to recover and qualify by clearing 5.75m.

“I really had no idea my form until I came here,” he said. “But I’m here now and that’s the main thing.”

Two-time defending champion Sandra Perkovic advanced in the women’s discus throw with Valarie Allman leading the qualifying list ahead of Indian Kamalpreet Kaur.

Report by Sudipto Ganguly and Omar Mohammed; edited by Shri Navaratnam

Our Standards: Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.