Amusan eases into 100m hurdles final, Osamuyi also through, Ayanleke out

Tobi Amusan eased into her third African Games 100m hurdles final to stay on course for the historic defence of her title. The 27 year old ran 13.03 to qualify for Wednesday’s final alongside compatriots, Faith Osamuyi who ran 13.55 to place second in her semifinal heat while Stella Ayanleke was not that lucky after running 15.09 to place fifth in Amusan’s semifinal heat.

Amusan is bookmakers overwhelming favourite to successfully defend her title and become the first woman to win a 100m hurdles gold three times consecutively. She will also be the second Nigerian woman to do so after Vivian Chukwuemeka and third Nigerian after Chukwuemeka and Adewale Olukoju.

In the women’s 400m semifinals, Esther Joseph ran 51.74, a new personal lifetime best to win her semifinal heat to qualify for the final while Brittany Ogunmokun ‘s 53.26 run was not good enough to give her a spot in the final. Esther Okon couldn’t also make it to the final after running 53.80 to place sixth in the third semifinal heat. For the men’s, Chidi Okezie (45.63) and Dubem Nwachukwu (45.89) kept hopes of a first 400m gold for Nigeria since 1987 alive while Sikiru Adeyemi could not finish the race.