Former Japanese record holder Abdul Hakim Sani Brown came in second at the Diamond League meet in Oslo on Thursday, becoming the first Japanese runner to qualify for the 100 meters at the Paris Olympics.
The 25-year-old finished in 9.99 seconds, just under the Japan Association of Athletics Federations' Olympic qualifying standard of 10 seconds.
Japan's Sani Brown Abdul Hakim competes in the men's 100 meters final at the Diamond League meet at Bislett Stadium in Oslo on May 30, 2024. (Getty/Kyodo)
He ran strongly from the outside lane but was unable to hold off Akani Simbine of South Africa, who won in 9.94 seconds.
Still, the result came as a relief to Sani Brown, who has yet to break the 10-second barrier this season.
“I feel like a weight has finally been lifted off my shoulders,” he said. “I was doing well until about 70 meters, then I started to lose momentum.”
Sani Brown became the first Japanese athlete to compete in the 100m final at the 2022 World Championships, finishing in seventh place. The following year, he finished in sixth place.
“This year is a good opportunity for me to prove myself,” he said. “I want to make the most of the experience and aim for a medal in Paris.”
The former world youth champion will be competing in his second Olympic Games after competing in the 200 metres on home soil in Tokyo three years ago.
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