World Athletics Championships Day 1: Benjamin Azamati, Joseph in 100m heats action

On the opening day of the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, sprinters Benjamin Azamati and Joseph Paul Amoah will compete in the 100m heats.

Benjamin Azamati, who this year has run the ninth-fastest time in the world, ran 9.90 seconds in the Texas relays to qualify for the competition.

The National 100-meter record holder has had a remarkable year, running 9.96 seconds and 9.86 (+3.0) for West Texas A&M University before competing in two diamond league competitions this year.

At the Bislett Games, the ASICS athlete finished fourth behind Olympic 200-meter champion Andre De Grasse (10.15s), then a few days later, she won the 100-meter race at the Paris Diamond League (10.25s)-1.6m/s.

After the preliminary round concludes at noon at the Hayward field, Azamati will learn which men he will compete against for a shot in the semifinal.

The former University of Ghana student is expecting to perform better in Eugene after finishing behind Jamaican sensation Yohan Blake in the 100-meter semifinal at the Olympics in Tokyo.

The 100m Heats will also feature Joseph Paul Amoah on the track. The 200m national record is optimistic of making the semifinal this year after competing in the same event at the World Athletics Championships in 2019.

Joseph Amoah, who is presently rated 13th by World Athletics, ran a personal best of 9.94 seconds at the MSU Legacy Meet in April, breaking the ten-second barrier in the 100-meter sprint for the first time.

Following a strong season, there will be fierce competition for spots in the 100-meter semifinals, with athletes like Fred Kerley (9.76 seconds), Trayvon Bromell (9.81 seconds), Johan Blake (9.85 seconds), Fred Omanyala (9.85 seconds), Christian Coleman (9.87 seconds), and Oblique Seville all vying for spots.

On Friday at 18.50 Oregon time, the 100m Heats are supposed to start (1.50 am Ghana time on Saturday, July 16).