Adam Gemili, Alex Quinonez, Aaron Brown and Miguel Francis ran the fastest times in the men’s 200m heats, setting the wheels in motion for prospective mouthwatering contests in subsequent rounds at the 2019 World Championships in Doha.
The first heat went to Gemili who ran a nice curve and then streaked away for the win in a time of 20.06s, a Season’s Best time ahead of defending World Champion, Ramil Guliyev who clocked 20.27s and Taymir Burnet who just edged Divine Oduduru for the last automatic spot in that heat in 20.37s with the home in 20.40s.
Asian Record holder, Zhenye Xie took the 2nd heat as he passed 100m finalist, Zharnel Hughes for the win in 20.20s (+0.5m/s) while the Briton finished in 20.24s (SB). South Africa’s Anaso Jobodwana got 3rd place in an SB of 20.35s.
In the third heat, Ecuador’s Alex Quinonez took the top honours in a quick 20.08s and it looked relatively comfortable away from Yohan Blake who clocked a time of 20.23s, his fastest this season. European bronze medallist Alex Wilson finished 3rd in 20.40s.
Trinidadian Kyle Greaux pulled away from Yancarlos Martinez of the Dominican Republic, taking the win in the following heat in 20.19s as the latter returned a time of 20.47s. Reynier Mena was the third man to go through with his time of 20.52s.
Aaron Brown had his own battle with Briton Miguel Francis as they both crossed the finish with the win going to Brown in 20.10s while Francis was timed 20.11s in 2nd. Rasheed Dwyer ensured himself a spot in the semifinals, warding off Eseosa Desalu in 20.37s to the Italian’s 20.43s.
In heat 5, Andre de Grasse clocked 20.20s to easily win the race, looking over his shoulders several times to ensure he had the lead as was the case of second placed Clarence Munyai who finished in 20.29s. Serhiy Smelyk also came through well for 3rd in 20.39s.
Noah Lyles powered out with the lead off the turn in the final heat, before he stepped off the gas over the final 50m, allowing Trinidad and Tobago’s Jereem Richards come through to edge the win in 20.23s to Lyles’ 20.26s run. Brendon Rodney was 3rd in 20.38s as Andre Ewers just copped a fastest loser spot in 20.41s.
