URN.Orogot contested against USA’s duo, defending champion Noah Lyles and 2020 Olympic silver medalist Kenneth Bednarek.
Ugandan sprinter Tarsis Orogot on Tuesday failed to secure a spot in the 200 meters finals at the Hayward Field in Eugene.
In a more competitive semi-final that had three heats, Orogot was in the first lane of heat two. He entered a strong field featuring top athletes including USA’s duo, defending champion Noah Lyles and 2020 Olympic silver medalist Kenneth Bednarek.
He only managed to cross the finishing line in 20.35, three microseconds below his personal best time, behind Lyles who won the race in 19.62, and Bednarek who came second clocking 19.84.
According to the format of the qualifiers, the first two athletes from each of the three semifinals automatically booked a slot in the final and the next fastest two sprinters across the three semifinal heats get a spot in the final.
Orogot bows out after ending Uganda’s longtime drought of failing to qualify a male sprinter for the world athletics champions for close to two and half decades.
The 19-year-old became the first male sprinter to race for Uganda since 1997 at the championship since Davis Kamoga competed in 400m in Athens.
Orogot also holds the national record which stands at 20.32 which he posted at the NCCA outdoor championship.
