Nigeria’s 100m men crash out of London Olympic

Emelieze who ran in heat six, had to contend with Jamaica’s Yohan Blake who holds the season’s best time, but finished fifth with a time of 10.22 seconds. It was, however, a futile performance that failed to get him one of the three fastest runners’ tickets into Sunday’s semi-finals. Compatriot Obinna Metu ran in heat […]

Emelieze who ran in heat six, had to contend with Jamaica’s Yohan Blake who holds the season’s best time, but finished fifth with a time of 10.22 seconds.

It was, however, a futile performance that failed to get him one of the three fastest runners’ tickets into Sunday’s semi-finals.

Compatriot Obinna Metu ran in heat five and also placed fifth, four places behind Jamaica’s Asafa Powell, but with a time of 10.35 secs.

Ogho-oghene Egwero ran alongside the defending champion, aur and he got no inspiration from that as he finished sixth, with a time of 10.38 secs.

Speaking after the heat, Emelieze told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that he felt sad at his failure to qualify for the semi-finals, in spite of his spirited effort.

“It is expected that I should be happy with a season best here, but I don’t think I am. I would have loved to have qualified and from there, make an attempt for a medal.

“I came here to win a medal, not a season best,’’ he said.

On his part, Metu said he tried his best, saying it was a tough race.

“I knew it was going to be this tough and I tried my best. It was just unfortunate that I and my teammates didn’t qualify, but it was a really tough race,’’ he said.

NAN reports that the men’s 100m first round consisted of seven heats of eight runners each, with the first three in each heat and the next three fastest advancing to the semi-finals. (NAN)