Alaba Akintola chases Tokyo spot to Czech Republic as he competes in third meet in nine days
Nigerian sprinter Alaba Akintola continues his European tour with a third race in nine days, as he is set to compete at the 2025 Grand Prix Nove Mesto nad Metují—a World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze event—on Saturday evening at the General Klapálek’s Stadium in the Czech Republic.
Fresh off appearances at the Folksam Grand Prix in Karlstad, Sweden (July 3) and the 36th Meeting Arcobaleno EAP AtleticaEuropa in Celle Ligure, Italy (July 8), the 23-year-old will race in the 100m event as he hunts for automatic qualification for the 20th World Athletics Championships in Tokyo this September.
Akintola currently holds season’s bests of 10.17s in the 100m and 20.23s in the 200m. However, he ranks eighth in World Athletics’ ranking points among Nigerian sprinters behind athletes such as Kanyinsola Ajayi (already qualified for Tokyo 2025), Israel Okon, Favour Ashe, Udodi Onwzurike, Fola Olaoye, Joshua Caleb, and Ushoritse Itshekiri.
He knows that only a personal best of at least 10.00s—the automatic entry standard—will boost his chances of making the Tokyo team in the 100m.
In contrast, he leads the Nigerian rankings in the 200m, but understands that hitting the 20.16s qualifying mark is crucial to secure his ticket to Japan. With determination and grit fueling his trans-European campaign, the Czech leg could prove pivotal.
