2018 Commonwealth Games 4x10m bronze medalist Joy Udo Gabriel must overcome a formiable obstacle in the form of reigning Olympics double sprint champion Elaine Thompson-Herah, home girl AshaPhilip and Trinidad and Tobago’s Michelle Lee Ahye as shebids for her first global 100m final appearance.
The Nigerian ran a new 11.43 seconds personal season’s best to qualify for Wednesday’s semifinal but needs to run a massive lifetime best to realise her dream.
The 23 year old can draw inspiration from teenage sensation Tima Godbless who scorched to a new 11.09 seconds Nigeria U20 record Tuesday at the World U20 Athletics Championships in Cali, Colombia.
While it may not be smooth sailing for the pretty Udo-Gabriel, reigning Nigeria fastest woman Grace Nwokocha and former African Youth and U20 champion Rosemary Chukwuma are expected to qualify for the final.
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Nwokocha, the Olympics and World Championships semifinalist ran the joint fastest time (10.99s) in the first round heats to qualify for the semis and looks good enough to hit her first major global final.
Chukwuma was also impressive in the first round, winning her heat in 11.02 seconds and should also be in the final later Wednesday evening at the Alexander stadium in Birmingham.
Nwokocha has been drawn in the first of three semifinal heats and will battle for the two automatic tickets with Remona Burchell of Jamaica who ran 11.46 seconds to come second in heat 7 in the first round and home girl Imani Lansiquot who ran 11.15 seconds to place second in heat two.
Chukwuma will run in the third semifinal heat and has Nathalia Whyte of Jamaica who ran 11.31 seconds to win heat 6 in the first round and home girl, Daryl Neita, winner of heat three (11.02s) of the first round heats to contend with for a place in the final.
The Nigerian trio will be hoping who amongst them will become the third Nigerian woman to win the 100m gold after Mary Onyali and Blessing Okagbare.
They will need to get past the semifinal hurdles first before they can start dreaming of a first global podium appearance in an individual event.
By Dare Esan in Birmingham
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COMMENTS
Master blaster. World Editor.
Who ever is in charge of this headline should be fired because he has no eyes for good prediction. Nobody needs to be told that these girl has no business in team Nigeria talkless of expecting anything from her. It is not everything that must be hyped she’s the least in the team so next time do the rightful. You ignore Grace Nwokocha or Rosemary Chukwuma and be using this one to give Nigerians false hope. Most of the guys in that media house has no business up there.
And be bold enough to come and give the results because your beautiful Udo has done you proud by letting us down with her usual poor finishing. Everything about Nigeria is just weird from the NFF to the media. Earlier today you started hyping another BBNaija clown that doesn’t have business in the CWG as well to win us Gold. Continue your business hype over promoting those who deserve to be on the headline. Recently Amusan was not given attention either not until she bursted the world record meanwhile some of us knew she’ll shatter the damn record even before the competition itself after performing well at diamond league. This trend is going on for long that is why we don’t hear of many talented sportsmen and women in the country but rather you go on full blown business promotion.
Not saying you should not do business but you should have time for business and real deal else you’ll continue hiding the real people you should promote. Mind you real talents will not pay you to post them so get the vibe and start giving attention if you are on a positive mission to help the Goodwill of Nigeria.