OREGON, US: Ugandan sprinter Tarsis Gracious Orogot qualified for the semi-finals of the 200metre race after finishing third at the ongoing 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon (US).
The US-based athlete clocked a time of 20.44 in the 4th heat at the Hayward Field finishing behind Dominican Republic’s Alecander Ogando (20.01/new national record) and America’s Kenneth Bednarek (20.35).
Orogot becomes only the second male sprinter to represent Uganda at the World Athletics Championships and the first in 200m. The first being Davis Kamoga (Athens 1997 in 400m).
He will be back in action on Wednesday at 5am (Ugandan time) in heat two of the three-heat semi-final, with a place in the final up for grabs.
The first two of each heat will qualify automatically, as will the two fastest finishers across all the heats. That means eight athletes will feature in the final.
Meanwhile, another Ugandan Athlete Winnie Nanyondo finished eighth in the 1,500m finals on Tuesday, 5am (EAT) at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Oregon, Eugene, USA.
Nanyondo clocked 4.01.98 and walked away with $5,000 (about Shs19m) as a consolation for her stellar efforts in the brutal race.
Nanyondo qualified for the 1,500m finals after she was pushed to the ground by Italian athlete Gala Sabbatini in the semi-finals with 100m to go.
The Commonwealth bronze medalist was in the top 5 before being shoved by the Italian who earned an automatic disqualification following a plea by Ugandan officials.
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