Nigeria’s latest sensation in the men’s 200m, Udodi Onwuzurike is staying upbeat and looking to the future for his days of glory, following his seventh position placement in one of three semi-finals at this year’s World Athletics Championship in Tokyo, Japan.
Sports247 reports that a spirited 20.26s effort by the Stanford University of USA top notcher was not good enough to get him a spot in Friday’s final, where a total of three African sprinters will be among the competitors.
READ ALSO: Kwara United, Abia Warriors Face Stern Away Tests as CAF Confederation Cup Kicks Off
Letsile Tebogo of Botswana, Sinesipho Dambile of South Africa and Tapiwanashe Makarawu of Zimbabwe will be up against Kenneth Bednarek of USA, Bryan Levell of Jamaica and defending champion, Noah Lyles of USA in Friday’s prestigious final.
Although Onwuzurike admitted his target had been to be part of the blue riband race in Tokyo, the 2021 World U20 champion and 2023 NCAA winner in the United States is picking positives from his outings in The Land of The Rising Sun.
Onwuzurike, who was also a member of Nigeria’s bronze medal winning men’s 100m relay team at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, recounted, “I came into this championship knowing that this run was going to be hard.
“Every race was going to be difficult and hard to get out of; but I feel good. There were some great guys in the heats, and throughout this competition. I am happy and hoping for better lanes, then grow from there.”
