Leotlela, Ajayi Top List of Seven Africans in World Championships100m Semis
South Africa’s Gift Leotlela and Nigerian Kanyinsola Ajayi ducked inside 9.90 and will spearhead Africa’s bid for places in the final of the men’s 100m at the ongoing 20th World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan.
Leotlela broke 10 seconds for the third time this season as he sped to a new 9.87 lifetime best to win Heat One of the first round ahead of Ajayi, who also broke 10 seconds for the fifth time this season with a commanding 9.88 new personal best.
The duo will be among seven Africans that will compete in the semifinals of the blue riband event on Sunday at the National Stadium in Tokyo.
Others are Akani Simbine of South Africa, who is a three-time finalist in this event in the history of the Championships and Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo, silver medalist two years ago at the 19th edition of the Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
Another Nigerian, Israel Okon, a debutant who won his heat in 10.04, his second-fastest time ever over the distance; Ghanaian Abdul-Rasheed Saminu, who ran 10.09 to secure his place in the semis; and African record holder Ferdinand Omanyala of Kenya, who ran 10.12 to seal his spot complete the list.
With seven semifinalists, Africa will be hoping to produce at least two finalists, as they have done in past editions viz 1993, 1995, 2003, and 2023, or three or more for the first time in the history of the Championships.
