IPNEWS: Liberia’s Joseph Fahnbulleh on Friday, was just short of a medal in the men’s 200 metres dash on the Thursday of the World Athletics Championships Oregon22, finishing fourth in 19.84 seconds, just .04 behind bronze medalist Erriyon Knighton of USA.
Team USA swept the race with Noah Lyles setting an American record of 19.31 for gold, while Kenny Bednarek (19.77) and Knighton (19.80) settled for silver and bronze medals respectively.
The other African athlete in the final, Luxolo Adams of South Africa, finished in 8th place with 20.47.
“I wanted to get a medal for Liberia, you know, so bad,” said Fahnbulleh. “Being the only male athlete in the final for this championship, I wanted to get a medal.”
Liberia had a total of four athletes competing in the World Athletics Championships— Joseph Fahnbulleh was the only one so far to advance to the final of his event. Ebony Morrison will compete in the women’s 100 metres hurdles on Saturday.
“I’m thankful that I’m at the position I’m at where I can get exposure consistently and put the name out there,” said Fahnbulleh.
Aside from his disappointment, it’s been a strong season for Fahnbulleh, who won the NCAA titles in the men’s 100 and 200 metres, helping the University of Florida take home the team title.
However, he doesn’t plan to return to Florida.
“I will not be returning to the NCAA after this meet,” said Fahnbulleh “Y’all are hearing it first.”
Last Tuesday, Joseph Fahnbulleh made history at the ongoing world athletics championships after advancing to the final of the men’s 200m.
Fahnbulleh advanced to the final after crossing the finish line in 19.92 seconds, finishing second in heat 1 of the semi-finals. This accomplishment meant that Fahbulleh made history by becoming the first Liberian athlete to advance to an event’s final at the world championships.
Fahnbulleh is making his debut at the championship, but his impressive runs are no surprise, evidenced by his recent performances at national and international events. At the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, where Fahnbulleh secured his spot at the world championship, he made history by becoming Liberia’s first-ever Olympics finalist.
He eventually accomplished another historic feat at the 2022 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Men’s Outdoor Championships for the University of Florida Gators by winning both 100m and 200m, making him a double champion at the 2022 NCAA championship.
The top-ranked runner on Monday announced himself at the world championship when he breezed through the first round of the men’s 200m, placing first in his heat. Fahnbulleh, 20, ran in 20.12 to automatically advance to the semifinals. He will now set his sights on clinching Liberia’s first-ever medal at the Championships when he returned to the track Friday, July 22 .
Unlike the Olympics 200m final that saw Fahbulleh as the only African, he is one of two Africans that will run in today’s final. South Africa’s Luxolo Adams booked his spot in the final after qualifying as one of the fastest two in the semifinals. The last time an African athlete won a medal in the men’s 200m at the championships was in 2017 when South Africa’s Wayde van Niekerk won Silver.
