Alonso Edward in Olympic final

PANAMANIAN   sprinter Alonso Edward powered his way into the 200 meter final  race of the 2016 Rio Olympics on  Wednesday August 17 with a time of 20.07 seconds.

Starting from lane 5, Edward entered the curve hard to finish the semi  final ahead of  Dutch runner  Churandy Martina, who recorded 20.10 seconds. A bookie favorite, US sprinter Justin Gatlin  failed to qualify for the final

” I am pleased that I have reached  the final with no injuries  to be able to give everything … what I want is a medal, I worked hard for that, waiting for the big moment and to bring a good result to the country,” said the 26-year old.

Justin Gatlin, who one of the favorites for the podium, was third with 20.13 seconds and failed to qualify for the final as did  another 200 meter specialist  Jamaican Yohan Blake.

The fight for the gold medal will be on Thursday at 8:30 pm, Panama time with Edward depart in lane 3, Canadian Andre De Grasse in 4 and superstar Jamaican Usain Bolt in 6

Edward becomes the fifth Panamanian  to reach an Olympic final.

In the 1948 London Games Lloyd La Beach he got bronze medals in the 100 and 200 meters.

Guy Abrahams reached the final of the 100 meters at the 1976 Summer Olympics He was in fifth place. Bayano Kamani was in the final of the 400 meters hurdles in Athens 2004, also finishing in fifth place.

Irving Saladino won Panama’s only gold in  the 2008 Beijing Olympics