Yomi Omogbeja (06/08/2005)

Aliu out of 100m, but Emedolu, Zakari and Fasuba through to Semis

Defending All- African games champion, Deji Aliu of Nigeria is out of the 100m at the quarter finals stage at the 10th IAAF championships in Helsinki.

Aliu struggled to fifth position with 10.39 seconds in the quarter-finals Heat 3 won by former Nigerian sprinter Francis Obikwelu of Portugal in 10.19 seconds.

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But, Nigerian 100m champion Uchenna Emedolu (10.16 secs), compatriot Olusoji Fasuba (10.24 secs) and Ghanaian champion Aziz Zakari (10.41 secs) will represent Africa in the Semi-final tommorrow.

Aliu had looked visibly uncomfortable when he ran 10.36 secs earlier in the first round to place third behind Briton Jason Gardener (10.19 secs) and fellow African Aziz Zakari of Ghana (10.30 secs).

The 30-year-old, who had struggled with injuries this season, was tensed through all phases of the race and just managed to hold on to the third position.

Aliu struggles through to Round 2

Reigning All- African games champion, Deji Aliu of Nigeria looked very uncomfortable while qualifying for the quarter-finals of the men's 100m this morning in Helsinki.

Aliu was placed third in Heat 8 behind Briton Jason Gardener (10.19 secs) and fellow African Aziz Zakari of Ghana (10.30 secs) with 10.36 secs.

The 30-year-old, who had struggled with injuries this season, was tensed through all phases of the race and just managed to hold on to the third position.

But, Nigerian 100m champion Uchenna Emedolu (10.17 secs) and Olusoji Fasuba (10.19 secs) looked very sharp and relaxed in booking their place in the quarter-finals.

Burkina Faso's Idrissa Sanou also qualified in Heat 7 won by World defending champion Kim Collins of St Kitts (10.31 secs) in a time of 10.43 secs.

Mutola through to Semi-Finals

Mozambique's Maria de Lurdes Mutola bounced back from recent dismal performances to qualify automatically from Heat 4 in second position in a time of 2:00.71.

Morroccan duo Amina Ait Hammou (2:02.36) and Hasna Benhassi (2:00.77), and Namibian Agnes Samaria (2:02.46) also qualified for tommorrow's Semi-finals.

South African Pieter DeVilliers finished third to pick up the last automatic qualification ticket in the opening heat of the men's 400 hurdles with 49.81secs, behind American Kerron Clement (48.98secs) and Jamaican Danny McFarlane (49.37secs).

South Africa's L.J. van Zyl also qualified for the quarterfinals in the men's 400m hurdles, closing up on Paris 2003 bronze medallist Periklís Iakovákis of Greece (49.22 secs) on the line to place second with 49.35 secs. 

Sudan's Yamilé Aldama (14.36m) and Algeria's Baya Rahouli (14.17m) both made it through to tommorrow's final of the women's Triple Jump competition.

Olympic Champion Francoise Mbango of Cameroon, who has been in poor form all season, failed to start this morning.