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US hurdlers sparkle at Olympics, Nigerian sprinter cast out for doping

 New Nation
 Published: 12:00 AM, 01 August 2021  Updated: 9:25 AM, 27 September 2022
Both McLaughlin (right) and defending champion Dalilah Muhammad ease through their heats of the 400 metre hurdles of the track & field competition at the Tokyo Olympics in Japan on Saturday.
Both McLaughlin (right) and defending champion Dalilah Muhammad ease through their heats of the 400 metre hurdles of the track & field competition at the Tokyo Olympics in Japan on Saturday.

AFP, Tokyo :
The good and the ugly side of Olympic athletics were on show on Saturday as Sydney McLaughlin and Dalilah Muhammad sparkled on the track while Nigerian sprinter Blessing Okagbare was thrown out of the Games after failing a doping test.
McLaughlin and Muhammad, her predecessor as women’s 400 metres hurdles world record holder, should put up as eye-catching a duel as the potential clash between Karsten Warholm and Rai Benjamin in the men’s race.
Okagbare by contrast will not be lining up in the women’s 100 metres semi-finals later on Saturday after it was announced she had tested positive for human growth hormone.
Both McLaughlin and defending champion Muhammad eased through their heats.
McLaughlin said her world record of 51.90sec could be under threat due to a fast track at the Tokyo Olympic Stadium and the overall quality of the field.
“It feels pretty fast, I must say,” said the 21-year-old American.
“You can feel the bounce. Some tracks just absorb your bounce and your motion, this one regenerates it and gives it back to you.
“I think anything is possible. It is a really great group of girls, so I wouldn’t put it past anybody to go out and do it (break the world record).”
Muhammad has not had the smoothest of preparations but her ability to rise to the occasion of a major championships could give her an edge.
“I am feeling good now, Covid is thankfully behind me and the injuries that followed,” she said.
“So, I am feeling good and ready to run.”
Whilst McLaughlin’s dreams of gold remain firmly on course, British hurdler Jessie Knight’s campaign did not get past the first hurdle.
The 27-year-old lost her balance before the hurdle and crashed into it- once back on her feet she put her hands to her face and trudged off in tears. If there is to be a challenge to the American duo it is likely to come from Femke Bol.
The 21-year-old Dutch athlete put in an assured performance in her heat, cantering home well clear of her rivals.
“I love the track and these conditions. I am feeling well, sleeping well and am in great shape,” said Bol.
“It is great to be in this shape coming into this tournament.”
The USA also hold a strong hand in the 100m hurdles with world record holder Kendra Harrison praying that this time she ends her major championship jinx.