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Zoe Hobbs has advanced to Olympic semifinals where she is set to face Sha’Carri Richardson and Julien Alfred after an impressive preliminary race.
New Zealand's fastest-ever female 100m sprinter Zoe Hobbs has reacted with joy and excitement as she surged into the semifinals at the Paris Olympics, potentially setting up a high-stakes clash with world champion Sha’Carri Richardson and Saint Lucian speedster Julien Alfred.
In the second heat of the women's 100m sprint Hobbs clocked an impressive 11.08 seconds finishing second only to Alfred who led with a time of 10.95 seconds. Italy's Zaynab Dosso trailed in third, clocking 11.30 seconds.
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21:28 - 27.07.2024
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With these performances, the stage is set for a riveting semifinal round, where top names in women's sprinting will converge.
"It felt awesome, the atmosphere was incredible and I managed to make it through to the semifinals so I'm happy, I executed what I needed to," Hobbs said in a post-race interview as per RNZ.
"As long as I didn't false start I could say I've raced at an Olympics and call myself an Olympian, so first box ticked."
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14:44 - 02.08.2024
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Zoe Hobbs shared that the presence of her family and friends in the crowd made the event particularly special for her.
Accustomed to the energy and the big crowds, she highlighted the emotional mix of nerves and excitement that drives her performance.
"I'm used to [the big crowds] now, because I have been through it so many times, but it always adds that element of butterflies and prickles to the arms. But you know you have to zone in and react to the gun as fast as you can," she added.
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The sprinter from New Zealand also detailed her tactical approach during the race, noting her awareness of her position and the necessity to maintain composure.
"I could see I was in second with about 30 metres to go, so I knew I had to relax and trust that that's where I was in the space and not fight it, just let myself flow. So if I can add another element in the semifinals, then that is pretty exciting," she noted.
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15:25 - 02.08.2024
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Looking ahead, Hobbs is optimistic about her chances in the upcoming semifinals and believes she has more to offer.
"I feel like I have another edge that I can bring to the semifinal," she stated.
The semifinals promise to be a compelling showcase of elite sprinting talent.
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Other notable qualifiers include Sha’Carri Richardson who exhibited dominant form by winning her heat in 10.94 seconds,and Africa’s fastest woman Marie-Josee Ta Lou-Smith, 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 signaling that she remains a formidable contender in her final Olympic appearance.
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