Bostwana’s Isaac Makwala ran the race of his life at the ongoing 2015 World Championships, coming through in lane 9 to win heat 2 of the men’s semi-final with an impressive time of 44.11s. This is the second successive time that Makwala will be starting in lane 9, and the African Record holder has now run his second and third best times this year.
In fact he finished with the fastest times of all the heats in the semi-finals and will be a major contender in the final, who knows and could possibly even match or surpass his African Record of 43.72s, having done 44.19s in round one.
South Africa’s Wayde Van Niekerk made it two African representations in the 400m final, practically jogging in the home stretch as he won heat 3 in 44.31s. World Champion LaShawn Merrit finished 2nd in 44.34s.
Kirani James comfortably won heat 1 in 44.16s and will contest the final as the firm favourite, but he would know that Van Niekerk and Makwala will give him a race as they will be strong candidates for a podium finish.
Women’s 400m Hurdles:
In the women’s 400m Hurdles, Zuzana Hejnova booked her place in the final as she aims to defend her title, winning the last semi-final heat in 54.24s. America’s Cassandra Tate took the first heat in 54.33s, with Denmarks Sara Petersen securing the second heat after clocking 54.35s. There was a place in the final for Commonwealth champion, Kaliese Spencer who finished 2nd in her heat with a time of 54.45s.
Men’s 3000m Steeplechase:
If you are looking for incredible performances, Kenya’s Ezekiel Kemboi had it in abundance as he stormed past the field from the last 200m to win a fourth 3000m Steeplechase title in 8:11.28. He timed his run perfectly and hit top gear when he needed to, taking the victory from his three countrymen who were in front of him.
The top four finishes went to Kenya, with Conseslus Kipruto and Birmin Kipruto winning the Silver and Bronze in 8:12.38 and 8:12.54 respectively.
Highlight of the day:
Has to be that of Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce who stormed to victory in the women’s 100m final GOLD, retaining her title with a time of 10.76s. The Jamaican came into the Championships as the favourite and she lived up to that hype and has continued adding titles to her ever increasing accolades.
Dutch Dafne Schippers twice set a National Record (NR) in the semis and the final, first running 10.83s to win the final heat, and then lowered it to 10.81s to win Silver. Tori Bowie took Bronze in 10.86s.
With the World Championships Day 3 action ending on a high, the subsequent days promise to be exciting as the 200m comes up on Tuesday.
Click here to read our review of Field events
