Action from the men's 1500m heats at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games (© Christel Saneh for World Athletics)
One of the most compelling rivalries of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games – Jakob Ingebrigtsen versus Josh Kerr in the men’s 1500m – moved a step closer to conclusion as both qualified with ease for the semi-finals on the opening morning of action within a Stade de France packed with voluble fans on Friday (2).
Kerr, who beat Ingebrigtsen to the world title in Budapest last year, won the first heat with care, moving clear at the bell and having enough leeway to look over his shoulder on the finishing straight before cruising home in 3:35.83.
Ingebrigtsen, the defending champion, backed himself as always to move through the field at will, leaving his effort until the final stages as he moved up from third last to third, looking studiedly over each shoulder to ensure he was not using an iota of excess energy as he earned one of the six automatic qualifying places.
The sense of anticipation builds. Not that these two can count on sharing the spoils between them.
Kerr was followed home by Kenya’s Brian Komen, who clocked 3:36.31, with Norway’s world bronze medallist Narve Gilje Nordas third in 3:36.41, two places ahead of Yared Nuguse of the United States.
Ermias Girma of Ethiopia won the second heat in 3:35.21, followed home by Cole Hocker of the United States, with 19-year-old Dutch athlete Niels Laros finishing a handy fourth in a season’s best of 3:35.38, one place ahead of Kenya’s 2019 world champion Timothy Cheruyiot.
Britain’s George Mills, Ireland’s Andrew Coscoran and Australians Stewart McSweyn and Commonwealth champion Oliver Hoare were among those who will be in action again tomorrow in the newly-established repechage round now in place for all those who fail to earn automatic heats qualification over 200m, 400m, 800m,1500m, 100/110mH and 400m hurdles.
Sadly for the home fans there was no gold medal contender in action in the decathlon as their 32-year-old world record-holder and 2017 world champion Kevin Mayer, had announced with regret the day before that his struggle to recover from the injury he suffered at the Paris Diamond League meeting had proved unsuccessful.
The welcome was waiting, however, and Makenson Gletty – the first French track and field athlete to be involved in these Games – was carried to the line on a wave of patriotic sound, crossing in 10.72 in a heat won by Harrison Williams of the United States in 10.62.
Like France, Canada were lacking their No.1 performer Pierce LePage, the world champion, who recently announced that he wouldn’t compete at the Games because of a herniated disc in his back. But LePage’s compatriot Damian Warner, defending Olympic champion, led the way in the opening 100m event, clocking 10.25, with Puerto Rico’s Ayden Owens-Delerme second fastest in 10.35.
A 7.79m leap in the long jump kept Warner in the overall lead. Norway’s Sander Skotheim (8.03m) and Germany’s decathlon world leader Leo Neugebauer (7.98m) were the top decathletes in the long jump.
Neugebauer ended the morning session in first place after his effort of 16.55m in the shot put. Warner is currently in second, 12 points ahead of Owens-Delerme.
Sha’Carri Richardson’s chances of adding an Olympic 100m gold to her collection after winning the world title last year were significantly improved by the recent news that Jamaica’s world silver medallist Shericka Jackson will not contest these Games because of injury.
The US sprinter won her opening heat in 10.94, the fourth fastest qualifying time of the morning.
Sha'Carri Richardson in the 100m at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games (© Christel Saneh for World Athletics)
There was huge applause for 37-year-old Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, the 2008 and 2012 champion who is now carrying an extra weight of Jamaican expectation in this event. She ran the second-fastest qualifying time of 10.92 behind Marie-Josee Ta Lou-Smith of the Ivory Coast, who produced the fastest heat clocking of 10.87.
World indoor champion Julien Alfred, who is seeking to earn St Lucia’s first Olympic medal, was also an easy victor, clocking 10.95, a time matched by Audrey Leduc as she ran a Canadian record in heat four.
Britain’s Daryll Neita clocked the third fastest qualifying time, 10.92, but a thousand of a second slower than Fraser-Pryce’s time.
Ukraine’s Yaroslava Mahuchikh, who set a high jump world record of 2.10m the last time she was in Paris, did not need to exert herself too much today as she secured one of the 13 automatic qualifying places for Sunday’s final as one of six athletes clearing 1.95m.
Her Australian rivals, Olympic silver medallist Nicola Olyslagers and 2022 world champion Eleanor Patterson also cleared 1.95m, while Serbia’s European silver medallist Angelina Topic secured the last qualifying place with 1.92m despite twisting her ankle in warm-up.
Canada’s world champion Ethan Katzeberg topped men’s hammer qualifying with 79.93m, with his remarkably similar teammate Rowan Hamilton achieving a fairly similar result as he claimed second place with a personal best of 77.78m.
Poland’s 35-year-old five-time world champion Pawel Fajdek overcame a scare, qualifying with his final effort of 76.56m after two fouls.
Mike Rowbottom for World Athletics
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