Ella Onojuvwevwo gets world leader, world champion in Olympics 400m semifinal heat

Ella Onojuvwevwo’s dream of becoming the first Nigerian woman to run in the final of the Olympic 400m final will depend on how much the 19-year-old believes in miracle.

Yes, miracle because the Nigerian has been drawn in the toughest semifinal heat imaginable.

She has been drawn in the second semifinal against world leader, Nickisha Pryce of Jamaica who raced to the top of the world list (48.57) of top performers pre-Olympics at the London Diamond League meeting and 2020 Olympics silver medalist and reigning World champion, Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic who has also broken 49 seconds in the event but holds a 49.20 personal season’s best.

Also in the heat is Alexis Holmes of the USA who has broken 50 seconds this year (49.78) and Great Britain’s Laviai Nielsen who holds a 49.87 lifetime and personal season’s best.

Onojuvwevwo will have to break 50 seconds for the first time in her career to stand a chance of becoming the first Nigerian to run in the final of the event since the duo of Falilat Ogunkoya and Fatimah Yusuf last did 28 years ago in Atlanta, USA.