Qatar’s Ogunode makes final of 400m

Femi Seun Ogunode made Qatar proud by snatching a place in the 400m final at the World Athletics Championships yesterday. The final is scheduled today at 9.45 pm (Qatar time 3.45 pm).Abubaker Ali Kamal was the other Qatari athlete competing yesterday. He banged his right knee into a hurdle during the 3,000m steeple chase first round. The bleeding cut stopped him from going all out and he finished seventh, ending the meet for the runner.Running in the third heat and knowing only two winners and two fastest losers would advance to the elite eight, the task for Ogunode was indeed a tall order. He was however positive and determined to improve with each race, despite the fact that he has had only one race before over the distance. Ogunode, running in the extreme right lane next to ‘Blade Runner’ Oscar Pistorius the South African who bathed in limelight for moving into the semi-finals in his worlds debut, clocked 45.41, improving his previous season’s best of 45.42 in the first round yesterday.Ogunode was delighted as he entered the mixed zone and commented: “I’m proud for Qatar to reach the finals. I want to thank my family, fans, friends and all people of Qatar for their support.“I’d put in my more than 100 percent tomorrow to improve my time. This is what I’d aim at,” said Ogunode.