Great Britain’s Daryll Neita, Dina Asher-Smith, and Bianca Williams all advanced to the semi-finals of the women’s 200m at Paris 2024, following the withdrawal of world champion Shericka Jackson.
Neita, who narrowly missed out on a 100m podium finish, coming in fourth, clocked 22.39 seconds in her 200m heat. Julien Alfred of St Lucia, who won gold in the 100m, continued her strong performance with a time of 22.41 seconds.
Asher-Smith, who was disappointed with her 100m result, ran 22.28 seconds, finishing second in her heat behind Nigeria’s Favour Ofili. Williams qualified with a time of 22.77 seconds.
An emotional Asher-Smith expressed her frustration after the 100m, stating to BBC Sport: “I’m just angry from yesterday to be honest. I was angry but coming down the home straight I was like ‘relax, relax.’ Yeah, I’m very upset,” she added.
Jamaican sprinter Jackson, the reigning world 200m champion, withdrew from the event, shifting the spotlight to American Gabrielle Thomas, who is now the favourite for gold. Thomas, the fastest woman in the 200m this year, set the fastest time of the first round with 22.20 seconds.
Alfred, celebrating her historic gold in the 100m, won her 200m heat with a time of 22.41 seconds. Jackson’s withdrawal from the 200m has opened up the competition, especially with reigning champion Elaine Thompson-Herah out due to an Achilles tendon injury.
Neita, reflecting on her performance, told BBC Sport: “It feels like I went to sleep here [at the track] last night. It has been a quick turnaround. Fourth was so bittersweet. I’ve had a little sleep on it and honestly I’m really proud of myself. It gives me so much confidence and a lot of motivation going into tomorrow.”
In other events, Lina Nielsen qualified for the women’s 400m hurdles semi-finals with a time of 54.65 seconds, while Jessie Knight will have to go through a repechage after finishing fifth with 55.39 seconds. Femke Bol won her heat with 53.38 seconds, securing a mixed 4x400m relay gold for the Netherlands. Defending champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone won her heat in 53.60 seconds, setting up a potential gold-medal showdown with Bol.
Great Britain’s Elizabeth Bird advanced to the women’s 3,000m steeplechase final with a time of 9:16.46, while Aimee Pratt did not qualify. Jacob Fincham-Dukes reached the men’s long jump final with a qualifying leap of 7.96m, while Miltiadis Tentoglou led the qualifiers with a jump of 8.32m.