African sprinters, Marie Josee Ta Lou (CIV), Murielle Ahoure (CIV) and Gina Bass (Gam) all progressed to the semi finals of the women’s 100m after impressive runs in their various heats.
Ta Lou stole the show with a blazing new Personal Best of 10.85s to win Heat 2. The Ivorian posted the second fastest time in the heats behind Jamaican Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (10.80).
Compatriot, Murielle Ahoure (11.05) finished second in Heat 1 behind Fraser-Pryce to qualify to Sunday’s semi finals.
Gambia’s Gina Bass came through in 3rd position in Heat 6 to progress to the semi finals. The Gambian crossed the finish line in 11.25s behind the Netherland’s Dafne Schippers (11.17) and America’s Teahna Daniels (11.20).
Elsewhere, all the of the favorites won their various heats with Great Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith, Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson all cruising to easy wins.
Defending champion Tori Bowie (11.20), returning from an injury, also qualified to the semis with a 3rd place finish in Heat 5 which was won by Switzerland’s Mujinga Kambundji (11.17).