PARIS (Reuters) – Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson and Oblique Seville served notice they plan to battle favourite Noah Lyles of the United States for Olympic men’s 100 metres glory, clocking the two quickest times in the semi-finals on Sunday.
Thompson, who has the world’s fastest time this season of 9.77 seconds, cruised to victory in 9.80 in his semi-final, while Seville, the only man to beat Lyles in a head-to-head race this season, ran 9.81 to win his semi ahead of Lyles in 9.83.
Akani Simbine of South Africa won his semi-final in 9.87. No African has won Olympic or world championship gold in the 100m.
Defending Olympic champion Lamont Marcell Jacobs of Italy was third in his semi-final to sneak into the final along with Americans Fred Kerley and Kenny Bednarek, and Letsile Tebogo of Botswana.
The final of Olympic athletics’ blue riband event is later on Sunday.
(Reporting by Lori Ewing, editing by Ed Osmond)
Source Agencies
