Jamaica falls short in women’s 200m final at Paris Olympics 2024

Consequently, Jamaica will be producing no finalist in the impending finals of the women’s 200m race of the 2024 Paris Olympics, a rather rare event for the regional sprint factory. Niesha Burgher and Lanae-Tava Thomas failed to progress from the Monday afternoon’s semifinals of their respective races.

Niesha Burgher whistling from the first semi-final, was placed fifth with 22.64 seconds, much slower than the athlete’s training and recorded best and seasonal best stand at 22.39 seconds. Nonetheless, she was challenged mostly by the American sprinter, the world’s fastest woman this year, Gabrielle Thomas. Thomas won the race in 21.86 seconds, clearing the last lap with elegance. She won it comprehensively and all this she did without exerting her utmost best.

Dina Asher-Smith, the former World champion hailing from Great Britain came to second position with a reaction time of 22.31 seconds, whereas Helene Parisot of France was third with a clocking of 22.55 seconds.

Similarly, in the second semifinal, Lanae-Tava Thomas could not perform as per her expectations and became the fifth with the result of 22.77 seconds. Her season and personal best sits at 22.34 seconds, but she could not reproduce that on the day of the match.

Another American, Brittany Brown took the second place beating the line in 22.12 seconds. Great Britain’s Daryl Neita closely trailing in 22.24 seconds, secured the second place. The third place was occupied by Jessika Gbai from the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire in 22.36 seconds.

This is going to be the awaited battle between the best sprinters, where the final will feature Gabrielle Thomas, who assured herself of Olympic gold, and Julien Alfred from St Lucia. Alfred also demonstrated her might regarding the semifinals; she won her heat thoroughly in 21.98 seconds without a drop of sweat, meaning that she will fight harder for gold.

Jamaica’s failure to qualify to the final of the women’s 200m is shocking, although other competitors are also attractively positioned and packed with tremendous talent as they run for the Olympics.