BAHRAIN’S Salwa Eid Naser put on a brilliant performance for the second successive night yesterday after clocking yet another national record in the 2017 IAAF World Championships in London.
After setting a new Bahrain mark in the women’s 400m in the first round heats on Sunday, Salwa did one better in the semi-finals to book her ticket to the medal round in style.
Competing in the second of three semi-final races and needing to finish in the top two to advance automatically, Salwa won her race and set an impressive new national best of 50.08s, shattering the previous record time she clocked just the day before of 50.57s.
The 19-year-old sent a clear message to the rest of the field that she is a serious contender for a medal in the 400m final, which is scheduled to take place tomorrow.
Among those she beat in last night’s semi-final race was American Allyson Felix, who is a former World champion. Felix slowed towards the end and she was left to settle for the runner-up spot in 50.12s.
Also advancing to the final yesterday were Shaunae Miller-Uino (50.36s) of the Bahamas, Phyllis Francis (50.37s) of the US, Kabange Mupopo (50.60s) of Zambia, and Stephanie Ann McPherson (50.56s), Novlene Williams-Mills (50.67s) and Shericka Jackson (50.70s), all three of whom are from Jamaica.
Elsewhere yesterday, while Salwa had reason to celebrate, countrymen Salem Eid Yaqoob and Aminat Yusuf Jamal were left disappointed.
Salem was unable to make it through to the men’s 200m semi-finals after finishing sixth from eight athletes in his first round heat.
Salem had a finishing time of 20.84s, well behind race winner Ramil Guliyev of Turkey who finished in 20.16s. Only the top three in the seven heats, plus three fastest losers, advanced to the semi-finals.
Aminat, on the other hand, missed out on qualification in the women’s 400m hurdles after finishing sixth from eight competitors in her first round heat.
Aminat had a finishing mark of 57.41s, well behind heat winner Ristananna Tracey of Jamaica who clocked a time of 54.92s. Petra Fontanive of Switzerland followed in 56.13s and Shamier Little of the US qualified from third in 56.18s.
Aminat needed to finish fourth in her heat, or be one of four fastest losers.
Today, two of Bahrain’s top athletes are set to appear on the track and in the field.
Former World junior champion Edidong Odiong will be competing in the women’s 200m heats at 9.30pm. She is one of the favourites in her event and holds a personal best of 22.74s. Her season’s best is 22.95s.
Edidong is running in the fourth of seven heats, and needs to finish in her race’s top three or be among three fastest losers to advance to Thursday’s semi-finals.
Noora Salem Jasim will also competing today and she will be hoping for a good result in the women’s shot put qualification, scheduled at 10.40pm. Noora will be competing in Qualification Group ‘A’. Her personal and season’s bests are 17.69 metres.
Noora needs to achieve a mark of 18.30 metres or at least be among the best 12 performers to be in tomorrow’s medal round.