BY AYODELE ODUMADE AT THE LONDON STADIUM

Sydney Siame of Zambia ran the race of his life as he qualified for the semi final of men’s 200 metres at the World Championships.  He ran a personal best of 20.29seconds, which was also a national record. What made his performance more remarkable was that Bronze medallist Warren Weir of Jamaica failed to finish in the top three. To show how far Siame has come, he failed to qualify after one round in Beijing two years ago. He said: “I have been preparing for this for so long. I have been running 100m all season to make sure I had the speed for the 200m. It has really helped me and I’m happy to get this result. “My focus is now to get straight into the final. That would be the biggest achievement for me. At the last world championships I was eliminated in the first round. I’ve experienced the rounds but I want to be in the top eight

“The support was incredible and they helped me to get a national record. I am so happy to have achieved that today.”

Wayde Van Niekerk of South Africa, who is vying to do the 200 metres and 400 double, won his heat in 20.16 seconds.  He will have to run 6 races in six days to achieve his goals. He is the only man to have run sub-10 in the 100m, sub-20 in the 200 and sub-44 in the 400m.

South African sprinter Akani Simbine, who is a sub-20 runner, came second in his heat in 20.26s. He said: “It was all about just qualifying there. It’s the first time I’ve run a 200m at major championships so I’m pretty happy with that progression through to the next round.

“I’m confident and happy with where I’m at.  I’m still learning how to run the 200m and how to navigate the curve, but it’s all learning and experience for the future.”

His compatriot Clarence Munyai was third in his heat in 20.19s.

Kabange Mupopo of Zambia qualified for the final of the women’s 400m as she came second in her heat in a season’s best time of 50.60s.  Mupopo played football as   a kid and only took up track and field in 2014. She said: “It was a great race. Very tough for me. It was like a final for me. At the final I will have to focus on being relaxed. I have it already from today, the NR.”