BAHRAIN’S Salwa Eid Naser set a new national record yesterday en route to qualifying for the women’s 400 metres semi-finals at the 2017 IAAF World Championships in London.
Competing in the fourth of six first round heats, Salwa clocked a time of 50.57 seconds as she won her race in style.
Her winning mark was not only a new Bahraini record, but it was also the fastest time of the round. Salwa lived up to her billing as one of the favourites in the event, despite being just 19 years old. She was the 400m World youth champion in 2015, and has since been one to look out for.
Salwa powered ahead of Phyllis Francis of the US who was the runner-up in 50.94s, while Novlene Williams-Mills came third in 51.00s.
All three women qualified for the semi-finals, which are scheduled for this evening at 10.55pm, Bahrain time.
Qualify
Other top names to qualify for the women’s 400m semi-finals were defending World champion Allyson Felix of the US in 52.44s, Shaunae Miller-Uibo of the Bahamas in 50.97s and Chrisann Gordon of Jamaica in 51.14s, to name a few.
Salwa’s national record was the second for Bahrain at this year’s Worlds. On day one, Bahrain’s Abraham Cheroben set a new national record while finishing 12th overall in the men’s 10,000 metres final. Cheroben clocked a mark of 27:11.08 for the new all-time Bahraini best.
Hassan Mahboob held the old national record of 27:21.40s, which he registered in 2012 in the Netherlands.
Meanwhile, in yesterday’s men’s marathon, Bahrainis Shumi Dechasa and Hassan Chani had respectable results.
Dechasa clocked his season’s best of two hours 15 minutes and 08 seconds, while Chani had a mark of 2:22:19 in 50th overall.
Two other Bahraini elite athletes will be joining Salwa today in competing on day four of the World championships.
Salem Eid Yaqoob will be competing in the men’s 200m heats, scheduled for an 8.30pm start, Bahrain time.
Competing in heat four of seven, Yaqoob needs to finish amongst the top three of his race or as one of three fastest losers to advance.
He heads into the race with a personal best of 20.19s, season’s best is 20.40s.
In the women’s 400m hurdles, Aminat Yusuf Jamal will be flying the Kingdom’s flag. The first of five heats gets underway at 9.30pm, Bahrain time. The first four of each heat advance to the semi-finals along with the four fastest losers.
Aminat will be competing in heat three. She has a personal best of 56.08s, which she also registered this season.