Zoe Hobbs has advanced to the Olympic semifinals, where she is poised for a thrilling showdown with Sha’Carri Richardson and Julien Alfred after a standout performance in the preliminary races.
New Zealand’s fastest-ever female 100m sprinter, Zoe Hobbs, expressed her joy and excitement as she made her way into the semifinals at the Paris Olympics. Her impressive run sets the stage for a potentially high-stakes race against world champion Sha’Carri Richardson and Saint Lucian sprinter Julien Alfred.
In the second heat of the women’s 100m sprint, Hobbs recorded a notable time of 11.08 seconds, finishing second behind Alfred, who led with a time of 10.95 seconds. Italy’s Zaynab Dosso finished third with a time of 11.30 seconds.
These performances have set the stage for an electrifying semifinal round, where the leading names in women’s sprinting will come together.
In a post-race interview with RNZ, Hobbs shared her excitement: “It felt awesome, the atmosphere was incredible, and I’m thrilled to have made it through to the semifinals. I executed what I needed to do.”
She added, “As long as I didn’t false start, I can say I’ve raced at the Olympics and call myself an Olympian. So, that’s the first box ticked.”
Zoe Hobbs revealed that having her family and friends in the crowd made the event especially meaningful for her.
She noted her familiarity with the energy and large audiences but acknowledged the unique blend of nerves and excitement they bring.
“I’m used to the big crowds now, having experienced them many times, but they still give me butterflies and a tingly feeling. It’s all about focusing and reacting to the gun as quickly as possible,” she added.
The New Zealand sprinter also shared her tactical approach during the race, emphasizing her awareness of her position and the importance of staying composed.
“I saw I was in second place with about 30 meters to go, so I knew I needed to stay relaxed and trust my positioning without forcing it. I just let myself flow. If I can introduce another element in the semifinals, that would be really exciting,” she explained.
Looking forward, Hobbs is optimistic about her prospects in the upcoming semifinals and feels she has additional potential to tap into.
“I believe I have another edge to bring to the semifinals,” she stated.
The semifinals are set to be an exciting display of top-tier sprinting talent.
Other notable qualifiers include Sha’Carri Richardson, who demonstrated dominant form by winning her heat with a time of 10.94 seconds, and Marie-Josee Ta Lou-Smith, Africa’s fastest woman, who topped the qualification rounds with the fastest time of 10.87 seconds.
Also in the mix is former Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who clocked 10.92 seconds, showing she remains a strong contender in what could be her final Olympic appearance.
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