Women’s 100m final set to be a scorcher in Tokyo

Photo: Reigning champion Elaine Thompson-Herah has advanced to the final of the Women’s 100m 

All three Jamaican women safely navigated their respective semifinals to advance to the final of the 100m which will close the show on the second day of track and field at the Tokyo Olympic Games, Saturday morning, Jamaica time. 

Reigning champion Elaine Thompson-Herah with 10.76s won semifinal one, Shericka Jackson with 10.79s was second to Marie Josee Ta-Lou in semifinal two while two time gold medalist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce with the fastest qualifying time of 10.73s won semifinal three.

In semifinal one, Thompson-Herah was quickest out of the blocks and looked imperious as she cruised down the Tokyo track with the field trailing in her wake. She barely got out of second gear as she eased into the final.

Jackson who had Ta-Lou for company was relaxed in finishing second but the came cannot be said for the Ivorian who has run her personal best twice of 10.78s on her way to the final.

Fraser-Pryce made a statement of intent in winning semifinal three as she blasted out of the blocks to cover the field after only the first ten meters.

With all three Jamaicans now through to the final, the highly anticipated sweep, which would be a repeat of Beijing 2008, remains a strong possibility.

In the Men’s 100m heats, which was contested right after the women’s semifinals, debutant Oblique Seville was second in his heat in 10.04s to advance to the semifinals. Yohan Blake who ran out of lane five in heat seven was second 10.06s behind Rohan Browning of Australia who won in 10.01s. National champion Tyquendo Tracey failed to report after sustaining a hamstring injury in training.