London IAAF World Championships: Three Nigerians qualify for women’s 400m

Nigeria’s Yinka Ajayi, Patience Okon-George and Margaret Bamgbose have qualified for Monday’s 400m women semi-finals at the ongoing International Association of Athletics Federations World Championships in London.

L-R Yinka Ajayi, Patience Okon-George, Margaret Bamgbose

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that in Heat 2 of the race, Shaunae Miller-Uibo of Bahrain placed first with a time of 50:97 secs at the championships that began on August 4 and will end on August 13.

Jamaica’s Stephenie Ann Mcpherson placed second with 51:27secs, while Ajayi came third with 51:58sec to qualify for the semi-finals.

In Heat 5, lane 2, Okon-George was second with a time of 51:83secs, some seconds behind U.S. Quanera Hayes who clocked 51:43secs, while Zoey Clark of Great Britain came third in 51:88secs.

In Heat 6, Chrisann Gordon of Jamaica came first with 51:14secs, Botswana’s Amantle Montsho was second with 51:37secs and Bamgbose third with 51:57secs.

The two main contenders, Olympic champion Miller-Uibo and world champion Allyson Felix, eased through to the 400m semi-finals.

Salwa Eid Nasser of Bahrain also took the opportunity to notch the quickest time in the heats with a time of 50:57secs.

Nineteen-year-old Nasser won the World U-18 title in 2015.