Eyakpobeyan drawn in tough semifinal heat, to battle ‘Nigerian’, Akande and Reid for a place in the 100m final

Commonwealth Youth Games 100m silver medalist, Justina Tianna Eyakpobeyan has been drawn in potentially tough semifinal as she seeks to become the ninth athlete to run in the final of the event.

The 17-year-old ran 11.61 to place third in her heat and secure a place in the semifinals. Great Britain’s Nigeria-born athlete, Mabel Akande won the heat in 11.53 and has been drawn to race against the Nigerian again for one of the two automatic tickets on offer.

Also drawn in the second semifinal is pre-Championships’ favourite, Alana Reid who holds a 10.92 personal best and has run 11.09 this season. Reid ran 11.46 to win her first-round heat.

China’s Yujie Chen is also in Eyakpobeyan’s semifinal heat, and she is also a favourite for the one of the two tickets on offer despite running 11.66 to come second in her first-round heat behind South Africa’s Viwe Jingqi.

If Eyakpobeyan races into the final, it will mean the third straight time Nigeria will be in the final of the event for the first time after Praise Ofoku (2021) and Tima Godbless (2022).

Tina Iheagwan is the first and only Nigerian to win the event in 1986 while Uduak Ekah won a bronze medal in 1998.

The women’s 100m final will hold at 10.35 pm Tuesday night.