Ayomide Folorunso, Italian record not enough

Ayomide Folorunso, Italian record

Hats off to Ayomide Folorunso. It becomes clear from the beginning of the round that entering the finals is a very, very complicated matter. But the Emilian consoled herself with the most eagerly awaited gift, namely the Italian record, repeatedly touched during this year and finally hit at Hayward Field. Folorunso was fifth in her semifinal in 54.34, a time twenty hundredths lower than what Yadisleidy Pedroso set in the Diamond League leg in Shanghai on May 18, 2013, nine years ago. To enter the decisive round, however, the Italian would have had to literally revolutionize the history of the specialty in our country (53.72 was the last admission chrono), something possible only in the realm of fantasy.

Out went the other two azzurre, Rebecca Sartori (55.90) and Linda Olivieri (56.04), who will surely be more comfortable in a more accessible context, in Munich, for the European Championships, in less than four weeks. And the concept can also be applied to Folorunso, who signs the third continental time among the semifinalists (in the finals the Dutch Bol and the Ukrainian Ryzhykova – slower chrono but passed by placing -, then, scrolling down the list, the other Ukrainian Tkachuk, 54.24, eliminated, to precede the Italian). The medal showdown will be the long-awaited match between the U.S. Sydney McLaughlin (52.17 in the semifinals) and Dalilah Muhammad (53.28), and the aforementioned Femke Bol (52.84).

Satisfied Folorunso: “I wanted to walk off the track knowing that I gave it my all -her words- it’s been a growing season so I know that this is just a stepping stone to better things that await me in the future. I made a few technical mistakes because I caught a few bumps on the first straight, but all in all I knew it was going to be a good fight and I’m glad I stayed there and fought with them. Where do I stand with my history in the hurdles? I feel like I’m still at the beginning, it’s like I’m figuring them out now, even though I’ve been doing hurdles for almost 10 years.”