Updated August 10, 2017 09:44:33

Botswana's Isaac Makwala has reached the 200 metres final against all the odds, qualifying from the notoriously difficult inside lane made even more difficult by wet conditions after gaining a reprieve from the IAAF.

South African Wayde van Niekerk, bidding for a double after his 400 metres gold, sneaked into the final as second of the two fastest losers after edging third place in his heat from Christophe Lemaitre by two hundredths of a second.

Makwala, one of the leading contenders for a race which has been left wide open by Usain Bolt's absence, was prevented from running in Monday's opening 200 metres heat and Tuesday's 400m final after falling victim to a stomach virus that hit scores of competitors.

The 30-year-old, seen as a leading contender in both events, had insisted he was fit enough to race while the sport's world governing body had said he had an infectious disease and needed to be quarantined.

Having also been barred from Tuesday's 400 metres final, he was given an unexpected reprieve on Wednesday when the IAAF said he was fit to run as he was no longer considered an infection risk. But he still had a lot to do.

First, he had to run alone in the rain inside 20.53 seconds — the slowest of Monday's qualifiers — to reach the semi-finals.

Although conditions were much worse than the competitors had in the first round two days ago with the rain teeming down in the London Stadium, Makwala sped round the wet track in 20.20 seconds.

Photo: Isaac Makwala had to run solo to qualify for the 200m semi-finals at the world athletics titles. (AP: David J. Phillip)

Barely two hours later, he had to run again in the semi-finals where he was given the inside lane, made even more difficult than usual by the accumulation of rain water.

But he still managed to finish second in 20.14 seconds, two hundredths of a second behind American Isiah Young who was the fastest qualifier.

"I'm still running with my heart broken, I was ready to run the 400, that's the race I've been training for, I don't run the 200 very often," he said. "The crowd was amazing, they helped me to believe."

Jamaica's Yohan Blake, double Olympic silver medallist on the same London Stadium track five years ago, failed to qualify after finishing third in his heat in 20.52.

Van Niekerk was sprawled on the track after finishing behind Turkey's Ramil Guliyev (20.17) and American Ameer Webb.

"It was tougher than I thought it would be, [I] had to dig quite deep," he said.

Blake finished behind impressive Jereem Richards from Trinidad and Tobago and Japan's Abdul Hakim Sani Brown in his race. Britain's Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake completed the line-up as the other fastest loser.

Photo: Isaac Makwala backed up from his time-trial to finish second in his 200m semi-final. (AP: Tim Ireland)

The IAAF said it made the decision to allow Makwala following a written request from Botswana's athletics federation.

It said none of the athletes who had already qualified would be expelled to make way for him.

Makwala followed in the footsteps of the United States women's 4x100m relay team who ran alone against the clock after successfully appealing against their semi-final elimination at last year's Rio Olympics. They went on to win the gold medal.

Makwala's saga began when he failed to appear for his opening 200 metres heat on Monday and the IAAF said shortly afterwards he had been ordered to withdraw by its medical delegate.

On Tuesday, Makwala told the BBC he had been ready to race and was fit and well for the 400 metres final later in the day. Shortly afterwards, the IAAF withdrew him from that race as well.

Makwala still went to the stadium on Tuesday but when he attempted to go through the dedicated athletes' entrance an official and security personnel barred his way and he was led away.

Botswana Sports Minister Thapelo Olopeng was among those unhappy at the treatment of Makwala, a national hero.

"The manner in which our athlete was treated has hurt us all, as there was no conclusive evidence of the disease," he said.

"Our officials have prepared a report and we have filed our concerns with IAAF."

Several athletes from Botswana, Germany, Canada, Ireland and Puerto Rico have been taken ill over the past few days, with some quarantined and others forced to miss their events.

Competition organisers said on Monday the illnesses were a result of gastroenteritis, but public health officials said on Tuesday laboratory tests had confirmed two cases of norovirus among approximately 30 victims.

Reuters

Topics: sport, athletics, england, botswana

First posted August 10, 2017 05:51:42