Ameer Webb advances to Olympic 200m semifinal, Lindon Victor set for decathlon
Aug 16, 2016 | Track and Field
RIO DE JANEIRO – Ameer Webb advanced to the semifinal of the 200 meters at the Olympic Games while a pair of Aggie alums, Simone Facey and Janeil Bellille, missed reaching the final of the women's 200m and 400m hurdles.
The decathlon starts on Wednesday for Texas A&M's Lindon Victor, who is representing Grenada along with his brother Kurt Felix. Action starts at 7:30 a.m. (CT) with the 100 meters.
Favored for medals in the multi-event are American Ashton Eaton, the world record holder and defending champion, along with Canadian Damian Warner and Kevin Mayer of France. Victor's career best score of 8,446 set this season ranks him equal fourth best in the world for 2016 with Mayer.
Webb was the final time qualifier in the first round of the men's 200m during Tuesday's morning session. Webb ran in the same heat as Texas A&M alum Shavez Hart of the Bahamas, and clocked 20.31 in third place as Hart posted a 20.74 in seventh. Demetrius Pinder, another Aggie from the Bahamas, false-started in the first heat of the 200m.
The top two finishers in each of the 10 heats were automatic qualifiers to the semifinals with the next four fastest times advancing. Webb's 20.31 had a slight cushion over the next best time of 20.34 by Canadian Brendon Rodney.
"It's a lesson learned, but not the hard way," stated Webb. "It could be the hard way looking at the lanes in the semi-finals, I could have lane 1 or 8, but I'm just glad that I get to run again. On the straight, I thought I was in second but I took another look and found out I was in third.
"I was just upset that I let that opportunity to get away from me to get a qualifying spot instead of waiting on the steps and hoping to get a qualifying spot [on time]. I was stressed, but once you get that lesson, you learn it. I'm blessed to get another shot."
Webb advances to Wednesday's semifinals, which will be run at 8 p.m. (CT), and the finals will be on Thursday at 8:30 p.m.
Simone Facey placed third in her semifinal heat with a season best time of 22.57, while the top two finisher to earn a berth in the final were Tori Bowie of the United States (22.13) and Michelle-Lee Ahye of Trinidad & Tobago, who clocked a national record of 22.25. The last time qualifier was 22.49.
Facey finished runner-up in her first round heat Monday, running a time of 22.78 to finish behind a 22.50 by Ahye.
A season best time of 56.06 for Janeil Bellille placed her sixth in a semifinal heat of the 400m hurdles. Bellille reached the semifinal stage by advancing on time with a 56.25 that placed her fifth in the first round heat on Monday.
In javelin qualifying Maggie Malone placed 25th with a mark of 185-3 (56.47) while teammate Brittany Borman placed 27th with a 183-10 (56.04). American Kara Winger just missed making the field of 12 that moves on the final as her mark of 200-2 (61.02) was 13th overall.
Discus qualifying on Monday had Shelbi Vaughan placing 16th in her group and 29th overall with a throw of 174-11 (53.33). Among her American teammates, Kelsey Card finished 25th (185-1) while Whitney Ashley had three fouls. The last mark to qualify for the final was 197-7. In the triple jump, Latario Collie had three fouls in the qualifying round.
