Budapest 2023: Chukwuma laments after 100m semifinal exit

After finishing last in her 100m semifinal to exit the World Championships in Budapest on Monday evening, Nigeria’s Rosemary Chukwuma said she made a big mistake by taking off late from the block.

“My takeoff during the preliminary round on Sunday was far better,” Chukwuma told The Guardian soon after the semifinal event on Monday at the National Athletics Stadium in Budapest. “It’s so sad I couldn’t meet my target of reaching the final here in Budapest.

“I made a mistake at the starting point, and it became difficult for me to catch up with them. During the preliminary round, my take off was excellent, and was why I made it to the semifinal. In 100m race, any mistake is costly. I have learnt my lesson and this won’t repeat itself again,” she stated.

U.S.-based Chukwuma returned a time of 11.26secs to place eight in the race won by Jamaican and defending champion, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in 10.89secs to qualify for the final.

American Tamari Davis placed second in the race in 10.98secs to also qualify for the final. Jamaican Shericka Jackson won the second semifinal in 10.79secs to also qualify for the final alongside Marie-Josee Ta Lou from Cote d’Ivoire who also returned 10.79secs to qualify for the final.

Sha’Carri Richardson showed up in style to snatch the gold medal in the 100m women’s final on Monday night as she stopped the clock in a championship record of 10.65, taking 0.02 off Fraser-

Pryce’s record set last year in Oregon. It was an iconic showdown that denied the Jamaicans the kind of golden finish they had envisaged.

In the last decade, Jamaican athletes have won four titles in six editions of the World Championships, including a medal sweep last year in Oregon. They were gunning for a fifth here in Budapest, but were stopped by the new sheriff in town – Richardson.

And as she crossed the line, pumping her right fist, this was indeed Richardson’s night—one that saw her rebound after missing the last edition of the World Championships due to less than favourable circumstances.

The evening had started with some drama as both Ewa Swoboda and Dina Asher-Smith finished third in their semifinals with identical times of 11.01.

Richardson also faced a scare, with her heat being a sort of final before ‘the final—drawn alongside the fastest woman this year, Shericka Jackson (10.65), and two-time 100m world medallist Marie-Josee Ta Lou (10.75). The 2019 NCAA champion was left in the blocks and had to fight for a ticket to the final, finishing outside the two automatic spots in third place (10.84).

Eventually, all three athletes were given the nod, heightening the anticipation and intensity of the race—nine athletes to one gold medal.

Julien Alfred was almost thrown off course too after being awarded a yellow card in the third semifinal for disturbing the start, which made her overly cautious leaving the blocks. Nevertheless, she came from behind to win in 10.92, with Brittany Brown following in 10.97.

The final line up was as intimidating as they come, stacked with four of the eight fastest women of all time. Any newcomer would have been fazed, but not the 23-year-old Richardson who rose to the occasion when it really mattered.

The Guardian