12th August, 2013
Team Nigeria’s hopes of clinching medals in the Women’s 400m Hurdles event at the ongoing 14th IAAF World Championships in Moscow, Russia was dashed Monday morning as two of the athletes crashed out in the Heat events.
Ajoke Odumosu was disqualified in the Women’s Heat One after having a force start, while Ugonna Ndu placed seventh with a time of 57.27secs in Heat Four.
Before Odumosu’s disqualification, there were fears in Team Nigeria’s camp that she may not perform well because of a nagging injury.
A source in the team’s camp told P.M.NEWS Sports that “we still habour fears here in Moscow as at Sunday night that Odumosu might not be able to give her best as a result of the recurring injury she sustained at the London leg of the 2013 IAAF Diamond League early this year.”
Zuzana Hejnova of Czech Republic won Heat One with a time of 55.25secs; coming second was Anna Titimets of Ukraine with a time of 55.50secs. In the third position was Nickiesha Wilson of Jamaica with a time of 55.75secs, while USA’s Christine Spence came fourth with a time of 55.96.
In Heat Four, where Ndu failed to qualify, the race was won by Dalilah Muhammad of the USA with a time of 54.90secs, Eilidh Child of Great Britain placed second with a time of 55.17secs, and Russia’s Irina Davydona came third with a time of 55.45, while Anna Yaroshchuk of Ukraine placed fourth with a time of 55.73secs.
—Adebobola Alawode