Paris 2024: Azamati, Saminu go into 100 Metre Heat with fourth best times

Ghana’s Benjamin Azamati and Abdul Rasheed Saminu will compete in the Men’s 100 Metre Heat on Saturday, August 3 at the Stade de France.

The Ghanaian sprint duo goes into their respective heat with the fourth best times of the year with Azamati set to compete in Heat One and Saminu set to compete in Heat 5.

Both men are aiming to qualify to the semifinals of one of the most anticipated events at this year’s Paris Olympics.

In Heat One, Azamati’s time of 10.05 seconds comes in fourth place behind Jamiaca’s Kishane Thompson (9.77 seconds), Espinosa Reynaldo of Cuba (9.96 seconds) and Jeremiah Azu of Great Britain (9.97 seconds). The heat is scheduled to take place at 9:55 GMT.

In Heat Five, Saminu’s fine season has culminated in him running a time of 10.02 seconds best this year which, like Azamati, places him in fourth ahead of his heat.

Benjamin Richards of South Africa (9.86 seconds), Marcel Jacobs of Italy who is the defending Olympic champion (9.92 seconds), Kayinsola Ajayi of Nigeria (10.00 seconds) go into the heat as the fastest in the field.

Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson (L) competes to win ahead of Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo Photo by ATTILA KISBENEDEK/AFP via Getty Images)

Only the top three finishers progress automatically to the semifinals.

Benjamin Azamati