This is the update by Justin Lagat on Day 2, session 1 of the World Athletics Under 20 Championships. Justin Lagat is covering the WU 20 for @runblogrun this week, and we appreciate his overcoming the challenges of a pandemic championships.
“No. You can’t get used to us!” I hear a Kenyan fan shout during this race! #wu20Nairobi21 #WorldAthleticsU20 @runblogrun https://t.co/uBOc3q1Rmk
— Justin Lagat (@LagatJustin) August 19, 2021
In weather that could conveniently describe the Nairobi city; “the city under the sun” – warm and sunny, the first rounds of the men and women 400m hurdles became the first events on track on the second day of the world under 20 championships in Nairobi.
Heidi Salminen of Finland (PB 58.12), Gabriel white of Jamaica (58.65), and Savannah Sutherland of Canada won heat 1, 2, and 3 of the women’s 400m hurdles, respectively. There were five heats in the men’s heats and the two fastest heats were won by Denis Novoseltsev as an authorized neutral athlete and Roshawn Clark of Jamaica in 50.93.
However, it seems the battle will not be just with the Ethiopians since one athlete already got disqualified in the first heat while the other, Daniel Wolde finished 3rd in the heat where Wanyonyi had won.
On the women’s part, it didn’t go well for the Kenyans. After running what would have been the fastest qualification time in the first heat of the women’s 800m, Kenya’s Sheila Chepkosgei was disqualified. Ethiopia’s Ayal Dagnachew who finished behind the Kenyan will now be advancing to the semifinals with the fastest time of 2:02.94, which is also a personal best time for her. The other Kenyan would finish last in her heat.
