Wenda Nel Misses Mark In Women’s 400m Hurdles Semi-finals

South African hurdler Wenda Nel failed to qualify for the 400m hurdles final despite a good run in the semi-finals on Monday.

Nel finished seventh in the third semifinal after clocking 56.35sec with world record holder Sydney McLaughlin from USA coming home first in 53.05sec.

The nine-time South African champion was also up against Panama’s Gianna Woodruff in her heat, but rainy conditions at the Olympic Stadium affected her performance.

Nel had qualified to the semi-finals having managed a third-place finish in 56.06 seconds, which was slow than her season’s best of 55.16, and still adrift of her best ever time of 54.37.

Jamaica’s national champion Janieve Russell also qualified for the final following a second-place finish to American superstar Dalilah Muhammad in heat one.

Russell clocked 54.10 for her second place which was also the fourth quickest time of the qualifiers.

American Anna Cockrell also qualified with a time of 54.17 seconds, with Dutchwoman Femke Bol winning heat three in 53.91 seconds, the third quickest time.

Another strong medal contender Ukraine’s Anna Ryzhykova, who has a personal best of 52.96 qualified to the final as one of best losers in 54.25sec.

Denmark’s Sara Slott Petersen crashed to the track after hitting her eighth barrier,with her appeal expected to go though to enable her fight for medal in the final.