Ivory Coast’s Wilfried Hua Koffi on Friday won the GOLD medal in the men’s 200m after running 20.41s, his Season’s Best (SB) at the ongoing World University Games in Gwangju, South Korea. The African champion defeated America’s Bryce Robinson who finished 2nd with a time of 20.51s, and Turkey’s Ramil Guliyev coming in 3rd at 20.59s.
Koffi dominated from the heats and won all the races en route to winning the final. In his heat in round one, he clocked a time of 21.54s and even did better in round 2 with a time of 20.93s. He progressed to the semis, winning it in 20.96s.
South Africa’s Ncincilili Titi who won his heats in the first two rounds with a time of 21.03s and 20.84s respectively, could be content with his 4th place finish in the final, improving his time to 20.68s from his 20.71s in the semifinal.
Mobolade Ajomale who represents Canada didn’t make the final, after he finished 7th in the second semifinal on Friday with a time of 21.27s.
In the women’s category, Nigeria’s Omolara Omotosho was disqualified from the second semifinal of the women’s 200m on Friday, after false-starting in the race. Omotosho had qualified for the semis, after finishing 3rd in her heat from the first round with a time of 24.
Allen Eke who registered a no-show in the men’s 1500m on Wednesday, also did not start in heat 2 of the 800m that he was listed to compete in.
South Africa’s GOLD rush continued on Friday through Justine Palframan who won the women’s 400m in 51.27s, her Personal Best. Palframan followed in the paths of Akani Simbine who on Thursday smashed the University Games Record to claim Gold in the men’s 100m.
The Relays will be held this weekend, ending the Athletics’ event at this championship, and the handful of Nigerian athletes who made the trip could be hoping to string together a good performance to end their sojourn to Korea on a high.
