By OLAWALE ALABI

Samuel Ogazi on Sunday qualified for the semi-finals of the mens 400 metres event of the ongoing Olympic Games in Paris, with compatriot Chidi Okezie made to wait till Monday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ogazi had an impressive race with his performance in heat 4 of the event at the Stade de France.

Running from lane 5 in the round 1 race, Ogazi picked up from fourth place after about 250m to burst forward and move into second place.

He ran in at 44.50 seconds for a personal best, shaving off .02 seconds from his personal and season best.

NAN reports that the world number 23 placed behind Quincy Hall of the U.S who is the worlds number one.

On his part, Okezie finished fourth in heat 1 after running from lane 7 with a time of 45.52, way behind his personal and season best of 44.97.

But the world number 49 can still find a place in the semi-finals if he can succeed from the repechage round fixed for Monday morning.

He has been placed in heat 2, where the winners in the four heats and the next two fastest will join in the semi-finals scheduled for later in the day. (NAN)