Jamaica takes first step towards retaining women's 100m supremacy at the Olympics

Jamaica's women took the first step in retaining their supremacy from the last Olympics in the 100m as all three women qualified from the heats on Friday.  

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is a step closer to a third Olympic 100m title after clocking the second fastest time in the heats. She clocked 10.92 seconds for second behind Marie Josee Ta Lou-Smith who won in a season’s best 10.87.

Tia Clayton also made progress after finishing second in her heat in 11 seconds even.

Shashalee Forbes ensured all three Jamaicans will line-up in the semis as her 11.19 seconds saw her cop the runner-up spot in her heat.

Fraser-Pryce will face American world champion Shacarri Richardson and St Luica's Julien Alfred in semi-final two on Saturday at 12:50pm.

Forbes will contest semi-final one while clayton will line-up in semi-final three. 

It took a national record 3 minutes, 11.06 seconds from the quartet of Reheem Hayles, Junelle Bromfield, Zandrion Barnes and Stephenie McPherson for the mixed 4x4 team to qualify for Saturday’s final. They ended 4th in their heat.

The women’s triple jump saw two of the three Jamaican women advancing with Shanieka Ricketts going beyond the automatic qualifying mark with 14.47 and Ackelia Smith registering 14.09. Kimberly Williams missed out after a best effort of 13.77.

Natoya Goule-Toppin won her heat of the 800 in 1:58.66 and says it sets her up well for the semis.

Adelle Tracey will have to use the repechage round after ending 8th in 2:03.47.

Rajindra Campbell's 21.05 metres sees him qualify for the shot put final, but Samantha Hall’s 54.94 metres in the discus will not get her through. Earlier, Lamara Distin missed out on a place in the high jump final with her best clearance being 1.88m.