Michelle-Lee Ahye opens her 2022 World Championship in Athletics campaign at 8:45 p.m. tonight (TT time) here in Eugene, Oregon, USA, in the sixth of seven women’s 100-meter heats.
Ahye, Trinidad and Tobago’s only female athlete of the century, will run in lane four. American Aleia Hobbs was drawn in lane six. Hobbs is fourth on the 2022 world performance list at 10.81 seconds, while Ahye is 16th with a season-best 10.94.
In their current form, Ahye and Hobbs should secure two of the three automatic semi-final spots on offer in round six. Also in the race are Bahrain’s Ofonime Odiong, who clocked a personal best of 11.05 this season, Guyana’s Jasmine Abrams (11.07), Canadian Khamica Bingham (11.22), Switzerland’s Ajla Del Ponte (11.26) and the athlete from the islands Northern Marianas Zarinae Sapong (13.04) .
Jamaica will compete in the first four heats of the women’s 100m. At 8:10 p.m., Shericka Jackson runs in the opening round. Defending champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce will play seven minutes later. Defending Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah takes on the starter in the third set. And Kemba Nelson lines up in the fourth inning.
St. Lucia’s Julien Alfred takes on Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith in the fifth round. American champion Melissa Jefferson, Swiss sprint star Mujinga Kambundji and Poland’s Ewa Swoboda will face off in the seventh and final round.
The women’s 100m semi-final begins at 8:10 p.m. tonight.
T&T athletes Portious Warren and Jerod Elcock were on view at Hayward Field after press time last night.
Elcock was drawn in the second of seven men’s 100m heats. This race also included one of the favorites for the title, the American Fred Kerley, as well as the Briton Zharnel Hughes, the Liberian Emmanuel Matadi, the Nigerian Favor Ashe and the Chinese Su Bingtian. The top three qualified automatically for today’s semi-final, which is due to start at 9 p.m.
Warren competed in Group “B” of the women’s shot put qualifying event. She needed at least 18.90 meters to automatically qualify for today’s 21:25 final.
The other T&T pitcher at Oregon22, Keshorn Walcott had one of his best seasons. He has competed in seven competitions this year, clearing 84 meters each time. Walcott’s best throw to date in 2022, 89.07m, is the third farthest of his career.
“I think my consistency comes from the fact that I’ve been healthier for a very long time,” Walcott told the Express. “I was able to train without any kind of setbacks and with a very free spirit. I’m enjoying throwing it again, and that’s been one of the biggest contributors to my consistency.
“I’m really grateful because it’s been a struggle for me over the last two years in terms of my health. Last year my season was going well, but I had an injury before the Olympics and it’s “It’s kind of deteriorated. I’m happy to be in good shape this year so I can give my best.
Walcott has two Olympic medals – gold and bronze – as well as gold and silver at the Pan American Games, silver at the Commonwealth Games, a title at the Central American and Caribbean Games (CAC), the bronze at the Continental Cup and gold at the World Juniors. His best performance at the World Championships, however, is seventh in 2017. Pitcher Toco is keen to improve on that performance here in Eugene.
“I’m very confident that these will be my best world matches to date. I’m confident in my ability to fight for a medal,” concluded Walcott, “and if it comes up for me, I’ll be happy to accept it.
The men’s javelin qualifying competition will take place on Thursday. The final will be played two days later.
