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It’s coming – Seville
August 21, 2023
BUDAPEST, Hungary:
The result was inexplicable, and the disappointment real, with Oblique Seville saying that his moment on the podium is closer than ever after finishing fourth in the men's 100 metres final as day two of the World Championships concluded at the National Athletics Centre in Budapest, Hungary, yesterday.
Seville clocked 9.88 seconds, along with Botswana's Letsile Tebogo and his training partner, Great Britain's Zharnel Hughes. Tebogo and Hughes got second and third, respectively, with Seville missing the podium by fractions. Noah Lyles completed half of the sprint double by claiming the world title in a world-leading 9.83, with Jamaican Ryiem Forde finishing eighth in 10.08 in his first final.
The margin of victory left Seville uncertain whether to laugh or to be disappointed.
"Everyone was close, and we were separated by milliseconds. The three of us ran 9.88, and I am telling you I can't explain it. I don't know what to say because everyone ran well," Seville said.
After finishing third in the National Championships last month, Seville credited getting back to full fitness as a reason for his improvement.
Confident that his time is approaching, he praised Racers Track Club mate Hughes for his big moment after a long road to his first individual global championship medal.
"Zharnel has been on the scene for a long time, and he has been trying over and over. So I am happy for him, knowing that he has been through a lot," Seville said. "Honestly, if I get an injury-free season, I know I can get on the medal podium. Without any setbacks, I can be on the medal podium."
The end of the morning session had a shock for Commonwealth Games 110 metres hurdles champion Rasheed Broadbell, who clipped the penultimate hurdle and failed to finish the race. Broadbell had the fastest time in the world this year leading up to the World Championships.
Orlando Bennet, who qualified with Hansle Parchment for today's semi-finals, watched the race unfold before and encouraged his national teammate.
"It was devasting. I had to try and refocus after that. I had him in the final as one of the top contenders, but you have to brush it off and move on," Bennett said.
Meanwhile, the quartet of World Championship 100 metres silver medallist Shericka Jackson, defending champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Natasha Morrison and Sashalee Forbes all progressed to today's semi-finals of the women's 100 metres after good outings.
Jackson clocked 11.06 seconds and Fraser-Pryce 11.01 to win their heat, while Natasha Morrison, with 11.02, and Sashalee Forbes, with 11.12, placed second and third, respectively, to advance.
It was a good day for the Jamaican men and women in the 400 metres as they all progressed to the semi-finals. National champion Sean Bailey clocked 44.98 seconds to finish third in his heat, while World Championship debutant Antonio Watson won his heat in 44.77, with Zandrion Barnes third in his heat in 45.05.
National champion Nickisha Pryce won in her World Championship debut, clocking 50.38 seconds, and Candice McLeod finished third in her heat in 50.37. Charokee Young's time of 51.24 was good enough to qualify.
National champion Roshawn Clarke and Jaheel Hyde progressed to today's semi-finals of the men's 400 metres hurdles. The debuting Clarke clocked 48.39 seconds to finish third, while Hyde was second in 48.63. Assinie Wilson, at his first World Championships, did not finish.
Meanwhile, national 1,500 metres champion Adelle Tracey found joy in becoming the new national record holder clocking 3:58.77 minutes, despite finishing seventh in the semi-finals.
