#TokyoGoldRush | Fraser-Pryce, Thompson Herah through to 200m semis but Jackson makes surprise exit
Published:Sunday | August 1, 2021 | 11:47 PM
Jamaica's duo of Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Elaine Thompson Herah is through to the Women's 200m sprint semi-final at the Tokyo Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan on Monday.
Fraser-Pryce cruised into the next round with a time of 22.22 seconds, ahead of Namibia's Beatrice Masilingi, who clocked a personal best 22.63s after being moved down from the 400m event by World Athletics for high testosterone levels. Former world champion Dafne Schippers of the Netherlands was third in 23.13s.
Thompson Herah ran a comfortable 22.86s to book her spot in the semi-final and continue her quest to become the first back-to-back double champion, after her 100m gold on Saturday.
However, 100m bronze medallist Shericka Jackson bizarrely missed out on qualification. Jackson seemed to stroll the distance of her race to place fourth in a time of 23.26s. Her coach, Stephan Francis, did not hide his disappointment.
"I expected her to do better, but she'll learn," he said.
That heat was won by Bahamas' Anthonique Strachan in a season's best (SB) 22.76s.
Namibia's Christine Mboma, the 18-year-old who was moved to the 200m in similar fashion to Masilingi, won her heat in a world under 20 record of 22.11s. World leader Gabrielle Thomas of the USA was second in 22.20s.
American Jenna Prandini (22.56s), Canada's Crystal Emmanuel (SB 22.74s), Switzerland's Mujinga Kambunji (national record 22.26s), USA's Anavia Battle (22.54s), the Ivory Coast's Marie-Josee Ta Lou (22.30s), and the Bahamas' Shaunae Miller-Uibo (22.40s) are also through.