Ivorian sprinter Marie-Josée Ta Lou led Namibian representatives Christine Mboma and Beatrice Masilingi into Women’s 200m final after successfully navigating their semi-finals on Monday at the National Olympic Stadium in Japan.
Marie-Josee won her semifinal in a seasonal best time of 22.11, with her African compatriot Masilingi coming in second in Semi-Final One on 22.40 behind race favourite Jamaica’s Shelly Ann.
Mboma, who is bidding to become the first African athlete to win the short race, came in second in Semi-Final Two clocking 21.97.In the process she bagged a new personal best and a set a World U-20 Record.
The 18-year-old lowered her previous record of 22.11 seconds that she had set during the qualifying heat that took place early Monday. She eclipsed the time set by the USA’s six-time Olympic champion Allyson Felix, as she won silver at the Athens Games in 2004.
Thompson-Herah Elaine won the Semifinal Two in a time of 21.66 that also had Gambian champion Gina Bass , who failed to make to the final after coming in fourth after clocking 22.67.
It t was a disastrous show from Nigerian champion Grace Nwokoch, who failed to make the final after coming in fourth in Semi-Final Three, clocking 22.47.
Niger’s Aminatou Seyni, who was bidding to get into the podium in the final, failed to impress as she finished behind Grace in a time of 22.54, which is now a new a now a new national record.
Photo Credit:Reuters
