World Championships 2023: Itsekiri and Ogunlewe advance to 100m semis in Budapest

Funmilayo Fameso 01:08 - 20 August 2023

Nigeria will have two representatives in the 100m semis after Usheoritse Itsekiri and Seye Ogunlewe automatically qualified from their heats at the World Championships in Budapest.

Nigeria's fastest men Usheoritse Itsekiri and Seye Ogunlewe, impressively advanced to the 100m semis at the ongoing World Championships in Budapest.

Itsekiri clocked a modest 10.17s to finish third in the heat behind World 200m champion Noah Lyles in 9.95s (-0.6), who edged African Record holder Ferdinand Omanyala.

Usheoritse Itsekiri during his heat race in Budapest

While Ogunlewe ran a faster time of 10.07s also for a third-place finish and automatic qualifying spot. Great Britain's Zharnel Hughes relied on his top-end speed to nail the win in 10.00s (0.0), edging Ryiem Forde in 10.01s.

Seye Ogunlewe🇳🇬 through to the men’s 100m semis at #WorldAthleticsChamps with a time of 10.07 pic.twitter.com/p5ch1AnRKr
— O.L.O.R.U.N.F.E.M.I. (@femii_p) August 19, 2023

Meanwhile, Favour Ashe was disqualified for a false start in heat 5. Jamaica's Oblique Seville powered away from the field to win in an equal PB of 9.86s (0.0, finishing ahead of defending champion Fred Kerley in 9.99s, while Henrik Larsson was 3rd in 10.16s.

Itsekiri and Ogunlewe will be running in a stacked semis heat for spots in the final.