Bahrain’s Kemi Adekoya set a new Asian record last night as she powered into the semi-finals of the women’s 400 metres hurdles by winning her first-round heat at the World Athletics Championships 2023, taking place in Budapest.
Competing in the third of five races in the event’s opening stage, Kemi showed her class, flawlessly clearing the hurdles en route to finishing with a comfortable gap ahead of her rivals.
The former 400m world indoor champion clocked a winning time of 53.56 seconds.
Her mark beat her previous personal best in the event of 54.12s, which she set in 2015, which was also a Bahraini record.
The 30-year-old thus has the new national and continental bests. She shattered the Asian record of 53.96s, previously shared by Chinese athletes Han Qing and Song Yinglan.
Han had set her time 30 years ago in 1993, while Song clocked her mark in 2001. Kemi’s time was also the second fastest of yes- terday’s first-round heats.
Only Femke Bol of the Netherlands was quicker, running 53.39s to win the fourth heat.
Finishing behind Kemi in her race was Andrenette Knight of Jamaica in 54.21s, while Ayomide Folorunso of Italy came third in 54.30s and Cathelijn Peeters of the Netherlands was fourth in 54.95s.
Only the first four in each heat plus the next four fastest made it through to the semis, which are scheduled to take place from 9.25pm tonight with a field of 24 athletes.
Should Kemi advance to the final, it will be held on Thursday.
Kemi is one of four Bahraini athletes competing at the Hungarian capital.
The others are Birhanu Balew, Winfred Yavi and former world champion Rose Chelimo.
Former women’s 400m world champion Salwa Eid Naser was forced to withdraw due to injury, while fellow-Bahraini Abdi Ali Gelelchu faced visa issues that prevented him from taking part.
Following Kemi’s semi-final tonight, Winfred will begin her medal quest tomorrow in the women’s 3,000m steeplechase heats.
Then, on Thursday, Balew will hope to improve on his 10th-place classification in the men’s 10,000m when he competes in the heats of the men’s 5,000m. Rose will run the women’s marathon on Saturday.
