Leah Bertrand will look to continue her impressive form when she takes on the starter in the third semi-final of the women’s 100 metres at the Stade de France here in Paris at 2:08pm today (T&T time).
“My goal is to reach the final,” Bertrand told l’Express after his first round yesterday. “I don’t really give a time. I just let myself be carried away by the atmosphere. If the person next to me runs in 11.08, I’ll run in 11.07. That’s how it is. As long as you win, the times will come.”
Bertrand was placed on track 1.
The third semi-final also features Czech Karolina Manasova, in lane two, New Zealander Zoe Hobbs, Briton Daryll Neita, Canadian Audrey Leduc, Jamaican Tia Clayton, American Twanisha Terry, German Gina Lueckenkemper and Belgian Delphine Nkansa.
Only the top two in each series will automatically advance to the final at 3:20 p.m.
In the first round, Bertrand finished third in the sixth heat in 11.27 seconds, finishing behind Terry, the winner in 11.15 seconds, and Jamaican Shashalee Forbes (11.19).
Positioned in the fourth lane, Bertrand ran between Forbes, in the third, and Terry, in the fifth.
“Before the race, I knew that with fast riders alongside me, being up there with them would allow me to qualify for the semi-finals.”
Bertrand’s determination paid off as the 22-year-old Olympic debutant followed the ‘Big Two’ to secure a spot in the semi-finals. Happy to advance, Bertrand cheered and smiled as her name appeared on the big screen.
“I was so, so happy. Of course, you’re running your own race, but I could always see the other runners, and I felt like I was third or fourth, third or fourth, third or fourth. I was pushing, going, going, going, going, going, I just kept going because I had to get the big ‘Q.’ So when I saw the times coming up, one, two, and then my name was third, I was excited. I was so happy.”
At first, Bertrand stood with his hands on his hips, savoring this great moment.
“I don’t know how to describe it. It was a shock to see all those people. Of course, I had expectations, it’s the Olympics, but when I turned the corner to go out and saw everyone there, it was very impressive. I was excited. The crowd, the energy, I was really at the Olympics. I achieved my biggest dream, the Olympics. It motivated me more. It brought me excitement and pleasure,” she said.
Bertrand said the overall Olympic experience was very positive.
“Compared to other competitions I’ve been to, like the Worlds and the Commonwealth Games, it’s a very different atmosphere. The Opening Ceremony was on a boat on the river. I’ve never done that before, so it was a new experience. And the Games Village is extremely big, the biggest I’ve ever been to. It’s all new to me, but it’s been good so far.
“Everywhere I look,” continued the Point Fortin sprinter, “I’m reminded that it’s the Olympics, it’s the Olympics, so I’m always focused. We came here to race. After racing, we could study anything else.”
Trinidad and Tobago’s other entry in the women’s 100m, Michelle-Lee Ahye, was eliminated after finishing fourth in the second heat and 37th overall in 11.33 seconds (see page 45). Twenty-seven women advanced to the semi-finals.
Bertrand and Ahye are both expected to compete in the 4x100m heats next Thursday.
“The team is building a really good cohesion,” Bertrand said. “The chemistry is building and I think that’s one of the most important things in a relay. We also have a lot of fast guys, so once we have that chemistry, we’ll have a good chance of winning a medal. We still have a long way to go with this team. We can mature it and form a good, solid team for the future.”
Ahye has high hopes for the women’s sprint relay at Paris 2024.
“There were some little problems during the handover, but we sorted it out and now we need to handover and qualify for the final. Anything can happen in the final,” Ahye said.
