The third day of competitions in the flagship Olympic discipline (Athletics) was marked by the stellar performance of South-African Akani Simbinein the 100m final, the fall suffered by Botswanan Amos Nigel and his elimination from the 800m semi-finals as well as the qualification of several representatives of the African continent for upcoming rounds.
Italian Lamont Marcell Jacobs provided Sunday’s biggest surprise by winning the 100m in 9 sec 80/100, following in the footsteps of Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt, triple champion in 2008, 2012 and 2016.
Lamont thereby became the first European Olympic champion on the home straight since British athlete Linford Christie took the title in 1992 in Barcelona.
South African Akani Simbine produced a strong performance to take fourth place with a time of 9 sec and 93 /100 in a final which was one of the most open of all time following the retirement of triple champion and world record holder (9 sec 58) the phenomenal Usain Bolt.
Two Africans will line up for the final of the 800m. Namely, Kenyan Emmanuel Kipkurui Korir (1:44.74) and his compatriot Ferguson Cheruiyot Rotich (1:44.04).
The out-and-out favourite, Botswanan Nijel Amos, holder of the year’s best time (1:42.91), World Champion and silver medallist at the2012 London Olympics, only managed an 8th or last place finish. Amos suddenly found himself on the ground having accidentally clipped the foot of American athlete Isaiah Jewett (2:38.12) with the finish line in sight.
Both runners, in a true display of sportsmanship, helped each other to their feet and finally made it across the finish line in last place (Amos) and second to last (Jewett).With his fall the dream of Olympic gold evaporated for this incomparable athlete.
Meanwhile, the other African athletes taking part in 800m semi-finals, those being Moroccans, Oussama Nabil, fourth in his heat (1:46.42), compatriot Abdelati El Guesse (1:46.85) and Tunisian Abdessalem Ayouni (1:44.99 NR) were eliminated at this stage of the competition.
Africa will be represented on Monday in the final of the women’s 100m hurdles thanks to the stunning performance of the 24-year-old Nigerian, Tobi Amusan (4th at the Doha World Championships),who flew through the first heat in 12:62, unseating Bahamian Devynne Charlton.
Also worth mentioning is Puerto Rican Jasmine Camacho-Quinn who sent a clear message in her semi-final on Sunday by clocking the 6th best ever time over the distance in 12 sec 26, just six milliseconds of the world record set by American Kendra Harrison, and who has now set herself apart as the major favourite for the final.
Another Nigerian, Ese Brume, booked her place in the long jump final, scheduled for 3rd August, by taking 4th place in group B with a leap of 6.76m.This athlete, who won bronze at the Doha World Championships, has a personal best of 7.17m.
Elsewhere, three African athletes will contest the 400m semi-finals, those being the winner at the Rio Olympics, South African Wayde Van Niekerk (45:25), Botswanans Isaac Makwala (44 :86) and Leungo Scotch (45:32).
The women’s 3000m steeplechase final, an event included in the Olympic programme since the Beijing games of 2008, will see the involvement of five African athletes including defending world champion Kenyan Beatrice Chepkoech (9:19.82).
Also taking part will be Ugandan PeruthChemutai (9:12.72), Ethiopians Zerfe Wondemagegn (9:20.01), Mekides Abebe (9:23.95) and the other Kenyan Hyvin Kiyeng Jepkemoi (9:23.17).
The highlight of the fourth day will be the men’s 3000m steeplechase final where seven African athletes will step up to the starting line, specifically, Moroccans Soufiane El Bakkali, one of the clear contenders for the title, Mohamed Tindouft, Ethiopians Lamecha Girma and Getnet Wale, Kenyans Benjamin Kigen and Abraham Kibiwott (8:12.55) and Eritrean Yemane Haileselassie.
Mohamed Bencherif
Programme for Monday 2ndAugust (GMT):
(00h00): Men’s hammer Preliminary round
(00h35): Women’s1500m 1st heat
(01h20): Men’s long-jump final
(01h30): Women’s200m 1stheat
(02h50): Women’s100m hurdles final
(10h20): Women’s pole vault preliminary round
(11h00): Women’s discus final
(11h05): Men’s 400m semi-final 1
(11h13): Men’s 400m semi-final 2
(11h21): Men’s 400m semi-final 3
(11h35): Women’s 400m hurdles semi-final 1
(11h45): Women’s 400m hurdles semi-final2
(11h55): Women’s 400m hurdles semi-final3
(12h15): Men’s3000m steeplechase final
(12h40): Women’s 5000m finale
