Maximilla Imali down but not out as she fails to make semis
Kenya's Maximilla Imali reacts after the 400m heats at the 2017 IAAF World Championships at the London Stadium in London on August 6, 2017. PHOTO | AYUMBA AYODI |
What you need to know:
- Imali hinted at scaling to 800m after the Commonwealth Games but said she will have to discuss with her coach Sammy Macharia back in Kenya.
IN LONDON
Kenya’s 400m sprinter Maximilla Imali might have failed to qualify for the women’s semi-finals after she finished seventh in the first round but she feels inspired to do better next time.
Imali, the National 400m champion, took of the blocks well but her acceleration deepened midway to clock 53.97 in a first heat won by Olympic silver medallist Allyson Felix from USA.
“I took off well but I felt some sharp pain in my stomach after the first 200m. I tried to summon some energy but my legs were not moving,” said Imali. “I have never experienced such pain.”
Imali said she felt honoured and happy to have competed in the same heat with her role model Felix. “It’s disappointing not to have reached the semi-finals but it now teaches me to train harder and focus more next time,” said Imali, who turns her focus to early next year’s Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.
Imali hinted at scaling to 800m after the Commonwealth Games but said she will have to discuss with her coach Sammy Macharia back in Kenya.
Imali represented Kenya for the first time in 800m at the 2014 World Under-20 Championships in Eugene and made her first Diamond League show in 800m in 2016 Rome.
