Bahrain eyes more in Rio Olympics

Manama : Bahrain’s Edidiong Ofonime Odiong in a time of 22.74 seconds and a new personal best won heat 9 yesterday in the women’s 200 metres at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro to qualify for the semi-finals tomorrow at 4.16am Bahrain time.

The 19-year old Odiong went into the final straight in second place, but powered her way past Trinidad and Tobago’s Semoy Hackett (22.78 seconds) who had to settle for second place and also qualified for the semi-finals, while third placed Veronica Campbell-Brown (22.97 seconds) of Jamaica missed out on qualification.

The other runners in the heat were from Kazakhstan, British Virgin Islands, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Slovenia and Tajikistan.

In the men’s 400 metres men’s final, Bahrain’s 21-year old Ali Khamis finished in a very creditable sixth finishing in 44.36 seconds and a new personal record.

Ali Khamis and the other runners were blown away by South Africa’s Wayde Van Niekerk incredible run as he smashed the world record in 43.03 seconds, eclipsing American runner Michael Johnson’s record of 43.18 seconds set back in 1999 in Sevilla, Spain.

The silver medal went to defending champion Kirani James (Grenada, 43.76) and the bronze to LaShawn Merritt (United States, 43.85), with the rest of the finishers being Michael Cedenio (TTO, 44.01) fourth, Karabo Sibanda (BOT, 44.25) fifth, in seventh Bralon Taplin (GRN, 44.45) and Matthew Hudson-Smith (GBR, 44.61) eighth.

In the men’s 100 semi-finals heats, Andrew Fisher was disqualified as he started before the starting gun, the race was won by Usain Bolt (JAM, 9.86) followed by Andre De Grasse (CAN, 9.92) and Trayvon Bromell (US, 10.01) who made the final and in another heat Kemarley Brown (10.13) came in fifth behind qualifiers Justin Gatlin (US, 9.94) and Yohan Blake (JAM, 10.01) as Brown finished 18th of 24 semi-finalists.

The women’s 400 metres was a disappointment for both Oluwakemi Adelkoya and Salwa Eid Naser as both narrowly crashed out to finishjoint ninth of 24 after the qualifiers had been decided over three heats.

Adelkoya (50.88), who set a new personal best (50.72) in the first round, could not replicate this and though leading in the straight to the finish line, she was overtaken by Phyllis Francis (US, 50.31), Stephenie Ann McPherson (JAM, 50.69) and Ohla Zrmlyak (UKR, 50.75).

Naser though finished third in her heat and setting another personal best (50.88), but was well short of Shericka Jackson (US, 49.83) and Natasha Hastings (US, 49.90).

The men’s 3,000 metres steeplechase first round also saw disappointment for Nelson Cherutich (8 minutes 35.87 seconds) who finished ninth of 15.

Qualifiers were Hillary Bor (US, 8:25.01), Soufiane Elbakkali (MAR, 8:25.17), Ezekiel Kembol (KEN, 8:25.51) and Matthew Hughes (CAN, 8:26.27).

John Kibet Koech (8:28.81) finished sixth in his heat and finished 18th of 45 as the top five qualifiers were Evan Jager (US, 8:25.86), Brimin Kipruto (KEN, 8:26.25), Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad (FRA, 8:26.32), Yemane Haileselassie (ERI, 8:26.72) and Hamid Ezzine (MAR, 8:27.69).

Meanwhile, Bahraini leaders yesterday expressed their pride on the occasion of Ruth winning the first Gold in the History of Bahrain at the Olympics. 

Commenting on the victory, First Deputy President of the Supreme Council for Youth & Sport and President of Bahrain Athletics Association HH Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa said: “I dedicate this historic achievement to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the wise leadership, HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa and the citizens of Bahrain.”

“This results is an incentive towards achieving more results for Bahrain’s Sports

“I was impatiently waiting for this moment after winning the silver medal... the dream became true...we look for more in Rio Olympics.”