The men’s 100m semifinals and final promises to be explosive with the trio of Divine Oduduru, Ogho Oghene Egwero and Seye Ogunlewe laying down the marker on what to expect on Day two of the ongoing Nigerian Olympic trials in Sapele, Delta State.
Oduduru set the pace after racing to a Personal Best (PB) of 10.23s to win heat 1, with Soyemi Abiola also running a PB of 10.40s to finish 2nd, while Olaoluwa Adegoke placed 3rd in 10.49s.
It’s the second PB Oduduru will be running in one month,winning the men’s 100m at the Akure Golden League with a time of 10.29s getting the better of Ogho-Oghene Egwero for the first time in a 100m race.
Egwero on his part also had no problems winning heat 2 of the men’s 100m at the trials, recording the same time of 10.23s just as Oduduru’s winning time in heat 1 as both recorded the fastest time of all heats. Tega Odele finished 2nd in 10.33s with Olisakwe Chukwudi 3rd in 10.44s.
For defending champion Ogunlewe, he took things easily in his race as he even started looking sideways for his closest challengers in the last 40m, comfortably taking heat 4 in 10.26s. Victor Ikhazoboh finished 2nd in 10.54s with Godwin Ashien 3rd in 10.55s.
Oduduru, Egwero and Ogunlewe in no particular order are the favourites for podium placements in the men’s 100m, and all three will be aiming for the Olympic qualification time of 10.16s on Friday.
Monzavous Edwards is another athlete to watch out for in the semis having won heat 3 with a time of 10.40s. Harry Chukwudike finished 2nd in 10.47s and Emmanuel Arowolo 3rd in 10.49s.
Who knows, maybe we will get to see a Nigerian male athlete run a sub 10s in the 100m for the first time since 2006.
