Final before the final? Richardson, Fraser-Pryce & Julien Alfred paired together in women’s 100m semi-final

Torrie Lewis defeated Sha'Carri Richardson at Xiamen Diamond League. Photo Credit - @World Athletics

Final before the final? Richardson, Fraser-Pryce & Julien Alfred paired together in women’s 100m semi-final

Joel Omotto 09:21 - 03.08.2024

Three of the world’s fastest women will square it off in the second semi-final at the Paris Olympics seeking a ticket to Saturday night’s final.

The women’s 100m semi-final at the Paris Olympics promises to be a thrilling contest after three of the gold medal prospects were paired together in the second heat.

Three fastest women over the distance will square it off in the second semi-final heat which could see one of either world champion Sha’Carri Richardson (10.65), multiple winner Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (10.60) and Julien Alfred (10.78) miss out on a place in the final.

The trio will line up alongside Nigerian Rosemary Chukwuma (10.88) and Mariam Gina Bass from The Gambia, who clocked a personal best 10.93 in the first round on Friday.

Heat 2 has been christened the final before the final and will come after the opening heat that has the likes of Britain’s Dina-Asher Smith, Ivorian Marie-Josee Ta Lou-Smith, Africa’s fastest woman, who clocked the best time in the first round after 10.89 on Friday, American Melissa Jefferson and Shashalee Forbes of Jamaica.

Australian Zoe Hobbs, Neita Daryll of Britain, Twanisha Terry of the USA and Jamaican Tian Clayton appear favourites in the third heat with a place in Saturday night’s final at stake.

With defending champion Elaine Thompson-Herah missing in Paris due to an injury, there will be a new Olympics winner over the distance and fans would have wished to have the big hitters in the final but it appears the semi-final pairings could deny them some of the stars.