AFP – United States (US) sprint star Noah Lyles and defending Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs of Italy safely negotiated their 100-metre (m) heats at the Paris Games yesterday to move into the semi-finals of the blue riband event along with a host of top rivals.
Lyles, who won treble sprint gold at last year’s world championships in Budapest, made a laboured start in the third heat won by British champion Louie Hinchliffe in 9.98 seconds.
Lyles, at one point fourth in the running after a slow exit from the blocks, finally came through in second in 10.04sec.
“It felt great, but the job’s not done,” said Hinchliffe, coached by US track and field legend Carl Lewis.Jacobs, who shocked the field to win Olympic gold in Tokyo in 2021, also progressed to today’s semi-finals.
The Italian clocked 10.05sec, made to work hard in the final 20 metres to finish second in a close heat behind Kayinsola Ajayi of Nigeria.
Also advancing into the semis of the 100m were Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson – the fastest man in the year with his 9.77sec – who looked very comfortable in winning his heat in 10.00sec.
Meanwhile, Brunei’s Muhd Noor Firdaus Ar-Rasyid, competing in the Olympics for the second time, clocked 10.86sec.
