Wiseman Were missed the Olympic 400m hurdles final in a race where U.S. also underperformed in a typically strong event.
Kenyan sprinter Wiseman Were failed in his bid to reach the Olympic 400 meters hurdles final on Wednesday.
Were finished fifth in his semifinal falling short in a high-stakes race that saw Rai Benjamin of the United States secure a comfortable win to advance.
20:15 - 07.08.2024
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The night proved challenging for some top contenders, including USA's CJ Allen and Brazil’s Alison dos Santos amidst a series of intense competitions and surprising outcomes.
Rai Benjamin led the charge in heat three with a remarkable time of 47.85 seconds showcasing his dominance and precision in hurdling at the right moments.
This performance solidified his position as a frontrunner for the gold medal as he effortlessly topped the semifinal standings ensuring his spot in the finals.
19:00 - 07.08.2024
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On the other hand, Jamaican contender Roshawn Clarke followed closely, clinching the second automatic qualification spot in the same heat with a commendable time of 48.34 seconds.
Clarke's performance adds to the intrigue of the final showdown, setting up a potential Caribbean vs. North American sprint duel.
However, the spotlight was not just on the winners.
17:15 - 07.08.2024
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Were, despite a valiant effort and finishing with a time of 49.22 seconds, could not capitalize on his previous achievements at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and the Kip Keino Classic earlier this year, where he had set a meeting record.
His fifth-place finish underscores the stiff competition and high standards present at the Olympic level.
The night also brought unexpected setbacks for other top athletes.
16:30 - 07.08.2024
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CJ Allen, a formidable competitor from the USA, faced a tough race, which saw him outpaced by the leaders, reflecting the unpredictable nature of hurdle events.
Meanwhile, Alison dos Santos, the 2022 world champion from Brazil, only managed a third-place finish with a time of 47.95 seconds in his heat.
This left him waiting anxiously to see if his performance would be enough to carry him through to the finals based on time qualifiers.
In heat one the competition remained fierce as Karsten Warholm from Norway blazed through to clock the fastest semifinal time of 47.67 seconds demonstrating why he remains a significant threat for the gold.
15:19 - 07.08.2024
Paris 2024 Olympics: Emmanuel Wanyonyi & Wycliffe Kinyamal flawlessly sail to men's 800m semis as Koitatoi Kidali misses podium
Emmanuel Wanyoyi took a comfortable win in the men's 800m first round with Wycliffe Kinyamal finishing third as Koitatoi Kidali struggled to make an impact and he will be out to bid for a semifinal ticket in the repechage round.
Frenchman Clement Ducos also made a strong statement finishing with a time equal to Benjamin’s but in a different heat thus adding another layer of competition for the anticipated final.
The second heat saw its share of drama with Kyron McMaster from the British Virgin Islands leading with a time of 48.15 seconds.
Hot on his heels was Estonia’s Rasmus Magi, who also secured an automatic qualification by a razor-thin margin.
Abderrahman Samba from Qatar finished close behind and had to await the results from other heats to confirm his advancement.