Jamaican Sprinter Oblique Seville Places Fourth in 100m Final at World Athletics Championships

BUDAPEST, Hungary – Rising star Oblique Seville narrowly missed out on a World Athletics Championships medal for the second year running, when he finished fourth in the men’s 100 meters final on day two of the Budapest showpiece on Sunday.

Jamaican sprinter Oblique Seville … finished fourth in the 100m final.The 22-year-old produced a late surge but failed to catch the leaders, crossing the line in 9.88 seconds behind newly crowned champion American Noah Lyles who clocked a world-leading 9.83 seconds.

So close were the last two spots on the podium that silver medalist Letsile Tebogo of Botswana and bronze medalist, Britain’s Zharnel Hughes, both also posted 9.88 seconds.

There was also disappointment for Seville at last year’s World Championships in Eugene, United States when he also finished fourth in 9.97.

“I wish I could call it a close fourth but fourth place is always fourth place,” Seville smiled afterwards.

“I learn from my mistakes gradually and these championships actually taught me something, to help me move on further to what is to come next.”

American Christian Coleman led early from lane four with Tebogo in lane three going with him, and Seville in lane seven playing catch-up.

Lyles, in lane six, produced a turn of speed mid-race to begin to pull ahead and even though Seville also rallied, he found himself pipped at the end.

“It’s surprising to me because I didn’t see Tebogo at all,” Seville admitted.

“I only saw Noah Lyles and Zharnel Hughes but I didn’t know that Tebogo was in the picture and I have to congratulate him because he did well – he did very well. 

“And what matters the most is the final and he actually pulled through and unfortunately I didn’t but I will learn from my mistakes.”

He continued: “I just should have executed my race better at the last part. I think I may have dipped a little bit early. 

“I should have kept my composure at the end and waited until about five metres from the line. I think that may have gotten me closer to third place.”

Seville’s teammate Ryiem Forde, the only other Caribbean sprinter in the final, finished last in 10.08.

A semi-finalist at the Tokyo Olympics two years ago, Seville looked impressive in the qualifying rounds here, winning his heat on Saturday in a personal best 9.86 and returning on Sunday to capture his semi-final in 9.90.

Monday will witness the highly anticipated women’s 100m final which is expected to feature the likes of Jamaican superstars Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Shericka Jackson.

The reigning World champion, Pryce comfortably won her heat here early Sunday in a time of 11.01 while Jackson, the 200m World champion, also easily captured her heat in 11.06.

There was a win for impressive St Lucian Julien Alfred who stopped the clock at 10.99 to also advance to the next round, while eccentric American Sha’Carri Richardson also clinched a semi-final berth with a win in heat five in a swift 10.92.

In Monday’s first semi-final, Fraser-Pryce will line up against American Tamari Davis, Great Britain’s Daryll Neita and Trinidad and Tobago’s Michelle-Lee Ayhe.

In the second semi, Jackson will clash with Richardson, countrywoman Shahalee Forbes and Ivorian star Marie-Josée Ta Lou, while the third semi will see the 22-year-old Alfred up against Jamaican Natasha Morrison and Great Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith.

The final will be preceded by the men’s sprint hurdles, which saw Jamaicans Hansle Parchment – the Olympic champion – and Orlando Bennett advance to the semi-finals on Sunday.