TEAM Nigeria’s entries in the Paris 2024 Olympics men’s 100m, Kayinsola Ajayi and Favour Ashe, both advanced to the semi-finals today.
Ajayi, making first appearance in the Olympics, emerged as the shock winner of his first round heat, beating Tokyo 2020 champion Marcell Jacobs.
The United States of America-based Ajayi clocked an impressive 10.02 seconds to finish first in the heat, with Italy’s Jacobs coming second in 10.05 and Ghana’s Abdul Rasheed Saminu third in 10.06.
Ajayi and Jacobs secured the automatic semi-final spots from the race, with Saminu also qualifying.
Ashe, also an Olympic first-timer, finished fourth in his heat in 10.16 but progressed to the semi-finals by earning one of the non-automatic spots.
His race was won by Oblique Seville in 9.99s, while Hakim Sani Brown was second in 10.02s and Puripol Boonson third in 10.13s.
In the semi-finals, Ajayi, whose personal best and season’s best is 10.00s, will be up against seven athletes who have dipped under 10 seconds this season.
Ajayi’s semi-final opponents include Jacobs (9.92s SB), USA’s Kenneth Bednarek (9.87s SB), South Africa’s Akani Simbine (9.86s SB), Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo (9.88s SB) and Jamaica’s Ackeem Blake (9.92s SB).
On his part, Ashe, who has an impressive PB and SB of 9.94s, will battle American favourite Noah Lyles, Jamaica’s Oblique Seville and Great Britain’s Louie Hinchliffe for a final spot in tomorrow evening’s semi-final.
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