LONDON — Elaine Thompson cruised into the final of the women’s 100 metres at the 2017 IAAF World Championships here in London, on Sunday.
The Olympic champion won her semi-final heat in 10.84 seconds, but was visibly saving a lot more enery in the tank for the final which will take place later tonight.
She didn’t get the best start, but once into her stride, the 25-year-old pulled away from the field before taking her off the gas pedal while looking around.
Thompson, who heads the world list this year with times of 10.71 and 10.78 secs, was the only Jamaican making the final as Jura Levy, Simone Facey and Natasha Morrison all crashed out in the semis.
Improving Brazilian sprinter Rosangela Santos finished second in the semi-final heat in a South American record of 10.91.
Meanwhile, the first heat went to Marie-Josee Ta Lou of Ivory Coast and she ran an impressive time of 10.87 to beat world 200m champion Dafne Schippers of the Netherlands who came home in 10.98.
Olympic silver medallist Tori Bowie won the third and final semi-final heat in 10.91 and she too looked sharp and ready for the finals later.
Advancing to the dance as well are Trinidad and Tobago pair Michelle-Lee Ahye and Kelly-Ann Baptiste, who qualified as the two fastest losers, along with Murielle Ahouré of the Ivory Coast who was second to Bowie in the last heat.
