Akinola advances to world semi-final in Torun

Bori Akinola got the Irish off to a strong start. Pic: Morgan Treacy/Inpho

Bori Akinola got the Irish off to a strong start at the World Indoor Championships in Torun, Poland this morning, the UCD athlete clocking 6.59 to advance automatically from his 60m heat in third place.

Jamaica’s Bryan Levell took victory in 6.53, with Hungary’s Dominik Illovszky second in 6.58, with Akinola not far off his Irish record of 6.54 in third.

“Not too bad, sub 6.60 is my quickest round opener all season, so I’m happy out,” he said. “This is quite early so I have the rest of the day to go back, relax, rest, eat, stay hydrated and come back for the semi.” 

Akinola had risen at 6.30am to prepare for his heat and he will be back on track shortly after 7pm Irish time this evening for the semi-final, where he believes he will need an Irish record to advance. 

“I need to lower it,” he said. “Like 6.50, 6.51 should make the final, that’s the hope anyway. And why not sub-6:50?” 

World Indoor Championships: Live, Virgin Media Two, 8.55am/4.55pm; Virgin Media Three, 7.25pm 

Irish in action, Friday (all times Irish) 

Maeve O’Neill: women’s 800m heats, 11.59am 

Emma Moore: women’s 800m heats, 12.13pm 

Mark English: men’s 800m heats, 12.42pm 

James Gormley: men’s 1500m heats, 6.04pm 

*Bori Akinola: men’s 60m semi-final, 7.16pm 

*Bori Akinola, men’s 60m final, 8:22pm 

*Pending qualification