Nigeria’s hope of a second medal at the ongoing World Athletics Championships went up in flames on the tracks of the Tokyo National Stadium, yesterday, when former world junior champion, Udodi Onwuzurike, could only finish his semifinal race in seventh position.
 
Running in the third semifinals won by Noah Lyles of the United States in 19.51 seconds, Onwuzurike finished in a personal best time of 20.08 seconds, but crashed out of the race for a medal.
 
This leaves 400m hurdler, Nathaniel Ezekiel, as Nigeria’s last hope of adding to Tobi Amusan’s silver medal at the championship, which ends this weekend.
 
The 400m hurdles final will be held today.
 
The men’s 200m semifinals at the World Championships produced fireworks, as defending champion Lyles, Botswana’s young sprint star Letsile Tebogo, and Jamaica’s Bryan Levell all booked their places in the highly anticipated final.
 
Lyles underlined his championship pedigree with a commanding run in semifinal three, clocking 19.51 seconds, the fastest time of the day and a new world lead.
 
Britain’s Zharnel Hughes followed closely, finishing second in 19.95 to also claim an automatic qualifying spot. South Africa’s Sinesipho Dambile impressed with a personal best of 19.97, but missed direct qualification, relying on time to see if he advances.
 
In the second semifinal, Jamaica’s Bryan Levell stunned the field, powering to victory in 19.78 seconds, the second-fastest time of the semifinals.
 
Tebogo of Botswana comfortably followed in 19.95, ensuring his place in the final. But there was heartbreak for Australia’s Gout Gout, who, despite entering as one of the most talked-about teenagers in sprinting, could only manage fourth in 20.36, ending his medal hopes.
 
The first semifinal was won by America’s Kenneth Bednarek in 19.88, with Alexander Ogando of the Dominican Republic joining him in the final after a smooth run of 19.98.
 
Zimbabwe’s Makanaisa Charamba nearly caused an upset, setting 20.03 for third, but narrowly missed out on qualification.
 
Tomorrow’s final is shaping up to be a clash of sprinting titans, with Lyles, Tebogo, Levell, and Hughes all in form.