All three Jamaican women advanced to the semi-finals in the 100m hurdles, with national champion Megan Tapper running a personal best of 12.53 seconds on Saturday’s second day of athletics at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Yanique Thompson also placed second in heat three with a time of 12.74 seconds behind Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan, who won in a time of 12.72 seconds.
Bahamian Devynne Charlton, who was also in heat three, finished fourth in a time of 12.84 seconds and booked an automatic spot in the semi-finals.
Britany Anderson blew away her competitors to take heat number four in a time of 12.67 seconds. Pedrya Seymour of the Bahamas was fourth in a time of 13.04 seconds and advanced to the semi-finals.
Things were not as smooth sailing for the women in the 400m hurdlers. Leah Nugent was disqualified from heat three for a lane violation. Rhonda Whyte was also disqualified from heat four for a false start.
Janieve Russell ensured the black, green, and gold nation had something to smile about as she secured automatic qualification to the semi-finals, finishing second in a time of 54.81 seconds.
The winner of the heat was Anna Ryzhykova from Ukraine in a time of 54.56 seconds.
Bajan national Tia Adana Belle clocked a season’s best 55.69 seconds for second in heat number four.
USA’s national champion and world record holder Sydney Mclaughlin strolled 54.65 seconds to take heat number three. In comparison, her teammate Dalilah Muhammad eased to victory in the fifth and final heat in 53.97 seconds.
In the field, Jamaican national discus record holder Shadae Lawrence threw 62.27 metres on her second effort to secure her place in the final.
Guyanese sprinter and long jumper Emanuel Archibald booked his spot in the heats of the men’s 100m after finishing second in preliminary number two in a time of 10.30 seconds.
INEXCUSABLE to false start in a 400m hurdles race…