Ivorian sprinter – Gonezie Marie Josée Dominique Ta Lou-Smith posted an enviable time of 10.87 seconds to win the women’s 100m [heat 8] in Paris on Friday to put the frontrunners on red alert.
Ta Lou, a footballer at school in the neighbourhood of Koumassi, a suburb of Abidjan while growing up urged her friend, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce [10.92], and Gina Lückenkemper [11.08] from Germany on her way to victory.
A constant performer at the Olympics since Rio 2016 Games in Brazil where she reached finals of both the 100m, and 200m, and finished 4th both event.
Below are those who have qualified to the semis:
Heat 1
Sha’ Carri Richardson [10.94] – 1st
P. Van der Weken [11.14] – 2nd
B. Masters [11.26] – 3rd
Heat 2
Julien Alfred [10.95] – 1st
Z. Hobbs [11.08] – 2nd
Z. Dosso [11.30] – 3rd
Heat 3
Daryll Neita [10.92] – 1st
M. Jefferson [10.96] – 2nd
B. Takács [11.1] – 3rd
Heat 4
A. Leduc [10.95] – 1st
Tia Clayton [11.00] – 2nd
I. Lansiquot [11.10] – 3rd
Heat 5
E. Swoboda [10.99] – 1st
D. Asher-Smith [11.01] – 2nd
R. Chukwuma [11.26] – 3rd
Heat 6
T. Terry [11.15] – 1st
S. Forbes [11.19] – 2nd
L. Bertrand [11.27] – 3rd
Heat 7
G. Bass [11.01] – 1st
M. Kambundji [11.05] – 2nd
D. Nkansa [11.20] – 3rd
Heat 8
M.J. Ta Lou [10.87] – 1st
S.A. Fraser-Pryce [10.92] – 2nd
G. Lückenkemper [11.08] – 3rd
The women’s 100m semi-final takes place at 19:50 local time on Saturday, with the final taking place later that night at 21:20.
By James K. Attaglo Wilson
