Tokyo Olympics: Aliyah Abrams qualifies for 400m semi-final on Wednesday

Guyana’s Aliyah Abrams will run out of Lane 2 in semi-final two of the Women’s 400m on Wednesday at 06:38h.

Abrams, who set a new season-best of 51.44s second, is the first Guyanese female since four-time Olympian Aliann Pompey, to qualify for a 400m semi-final to the Olympic Games.

Pompey qualified to the semi-finals in London (2012), Beijing (2008) and Athens (2004), but closest to a spot in the final was in 2008 where her 50.93s and then National record was 11th overall, just three places outside the final eight.

Pompey still holds the National 400m record at 50.71s set in August 2009 at the World Championships in Germany.

Meanwhile, 24-year-old Abrams will again battle with defending champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo, of The Bahamas, who will run out of Lane 6.

Good competition is also expected from Jamaican Roneisha McGregor and American Wadeline Jonathas, as the top two from the three semi-finals along with the next two fastest will qualify to the final.

Abrams finished fourth in her 400m Heat, which was won by Miller-Uibo (50.50s), while Cuba’s Roxana Gomez (50.76s) and Barbadian Sada Williams (51.36s) rounded off the top three.

 Her effort allowed her to lower the previous season best of 51.46s, while her Personal Best remains 51.13s.

Based in the United States of America, she did not make out of the Heats in Rio 2016 and made it her mission to go further in 2020.