- Aussie track sensation Bree Masters advances to the 100m semi-finals
- In her first Olympic appearance, the 29-year-old from Sydney appeared at ease
- Melinda Gainsford-Taylor also reached the 100m semis during the Sydney Olympics
Bree Masters showcased an impressive performance alongside the illustrious Sha’Carri Richardson, marking the first time in 24 years that an Australian woman has made it to the Olympic 100m semi-finals.
Competing in lane seven next to the American world champion, Masters powered through to secure the third and final automatic qualifying position in her heat with a time of 11.26 seconds.
Richardson, the American sensation, led the heat with an easing win in 10.94 seconds, the fourth-fastest overall, as she prepared for the semi-finals on Saturday.
It was a day of mixed outcomes for the Australian contingent at Stade de France.
Gold medal hopefuls Nicola Olyslagers and Eleanor Patterson smoothly advanced through the high jump qualifying, alongside Ukraine’s new world record holder Yaroslava Mahuchikh.
Rose Davies displayed excellent strategy in her 5000m heat, finishing third in 15:00.86 to secure her place in her first global final on Wednesday.
This achievement follows Davies’s career-best year, during which she shattered Jessica Hull’s national record in May.
Teen Claudia Hollingsworth also impressed by finishing second in her 800m heat, earning a semi-finals spot, while compatriots Abbey Caldwell and Catriona Bisset will face the repechage round on Saturday.
Bree Masters (right) has become the first Australian woman in 24 years to qualify for the Olympic 100m semi-finals
Drawn alongside reigning world champion Sha’Carri Richardson from the United States, Bree Masters finished strongly to claim the third and final automatic qualifying spot
Commonwealth champion Olli Hoare, Stewart McSweyn, and Adam Spencer found themselves in the repechage round of the men’s 1500m.
Tokyo bronze medallist Ash Moloney faced an early exit in the decathlon due to an adductor injury after three events.
Masters was beaming after her historic achievement, becoming the first Australian female sprinter since Melinda Gainsford-Taylor at the Sydney 2000 Games to reach the Olympic 100m semi-finals.
‘My primary goal was to enjoy this experience and aim for the semi-final while running my best,’ she said.
‘I achieved a seasonal best today and I’m hoping to set a personal best in the semi-finals.’
Richardson, absent from the Tokyo Games in 2021 due to a controversial one-month suspension following a positive marijuana test, made a grand Olympic debut on Friday, looking like a formidable gold medal contender.
‘I wanted to compete against someone remarkable, and Sha’Carri is undoubtedly at the top of that list,’ Masters remarked.
Bree Masters (pictured, centre) was all smiles after becoming the first Australian female sprinter since Melinda Gainsford-Taylor at the Sydney 2000 Games to reach the Olympic 100m semis
‘It’s a unique opportunity to race against the fastest woman in the world.’
Fellow Australian Ella Connolly experienced misfortune, finishing in 11.29 seconds.
Olyslagers and Mahuchikh were standout performers, advancing through their high jump qualifiers without any misses.
Patterson, who has clinched both gold and silver at the past two world championships, managed to clear 1.92m after two attempts, before successfully jumping 1.95m on her first try.
Hollingsworth, despite her youth, executed a savvy race in the final heat of the women’s 800m.
With the top three moving directly to the semis, she maintained second position for much of the race, finishing in 1:58.77.
‘I’ve never felt more relaxed at the start line,’ remarked Hollingsworth.
‘Coach Craig Mottram advised me to look up, breathe deeply, and not focus on the race, and I think I followed that advice perfectly.’
Hoare was among several athletes to express frustration over the new repechage round for all events from 200m to 1500m and both hurdles in Paris, instituted to enhance broadcasting content.
However, he was grateful for a second chance, along with McSweyn and Spencer, after a subpar performance in the 1500m heats.
Hoare struggled in a physical race against Kenyan Brian Komen, ultimately finishing 13th in 3:39.11.
