It’s been a difficult two years for Canada’s Andre De Grasse, however on Thursday evening on the 2023 World Athletics Championships, he secured a spot in his first 200m closing for the reason that 2020 Tokyo Olympics. De Grasse ran to 3rd place in his semi-final warmth with a time of 20.10 seconds, marking the quickest non-automatic qualifying time for the ultimate.

De Grasse confronted a sluggish begin out of the blocks, however accelerated across the flip into the ultimate 100 metres, overtaking three or 4 sprinters and practically surpassing Nice Britain’s Zharnel Hughes for second place. U.S. sprinter Erriyon Knighton took the victory with a time of 19.98 seconds, whereas Hughes claimed the second computerized qualifying spot in 20.02 seconds. De Grasse discovered himself ready within the lately launched Q Room, anticipating the completion of yet another warmth to find out his place in Friday’s closing.

Regardless of his place in an out of doors lane for the ultimate, De Grasse is thrilled to return to the grand stage. “I’m grateful to make it to a closing as soon as once more,” De Grasse mentioned in a post-race interview. “This season has been a problem, however I’m prepared to come back out right here tomorrow and compete.”

Shining underneath the intense lights 👏💫

Andre De Grasse is again within the 200m closing.

“I’m grateful to make it again into the ultimate once more. It’s been a troublesome season however I simply gotta get again out right here tomorrow and compete.”#TeamCanada #WABudapest23 pic.twitter.com/hhQbjYIP3J

— Canadian Operating (@CanadianRunning) August 24, 2023

De Grasse’s earlier look in a world championship closing was in 2019, the place he took second place behind Noah Lyles with a time of 19.95. This marked Canada’s first World Championship medal within the 200m since Atlee Mahorn’s achievement in 1991. De Grasse went on to defeat Lyles on the Tokyo Olympics, claiming gold for Canada within the males’s 200m. Though De Grasse and Lyles haven’t competed since 2020, Lyles expressed eagerness to face De Grasse as soon as once more. (De Grasse withdrew from the 200m in Eugene final yr attributable to post-COVID-19 health points.)

Lyles enters Friday’s 200m closing because the favorite, notably following his victory within the 100m world championship right here in Budapest. Rising skills like Letsile Tebogo of Botswana and Knighton are additionally contenders in search of a spot on the rostrum. De Grasse approaches the race with a fearless angle acquainted to Canadian observe lovers; when the highlight shines brightest, De Grasse persistently rises to the event.

Canadian athletes Brendon Rodney and Aaron Brown additionally participated in Thursday’s 200m semifinal, encountering challenges alongside the way in which. Rodney was concerned in a golf cart incident whereas being transported from the warmup observe to the decision room. Fortuitously, he emerged unscathed, although the incident prompted a 20-minute delay for his warmth. In the end, Rodney secured fourth place, with a time of 20.27 seconds.

Brown concluded his warmth in third place with a time of 20.19 seconds, initially qualifying with the second-fastest non-automatic time behind De Grasse, however he was disqualified post-race attributable to a lane infringement on the bend. Athletics Canada appealed the choice, however the enchantment was denied, marking Brown’s first absence from the 200m closing since 2017, when he was additionally disqualified for a lane violation.

The 2023 World Athletics Championships are happening from August 19-27 on the Nationwide Stadium in Budapest, Hungary. All of the motion can be delivered to you by Canadian Operating and Asics Canada. Comply with us on Twitter on Instagram for all issues Staff Canada and up-to-date unique information and content material.