Paris 2024: Orla Comerford dashes through to T13 100m final

admin admin | 09-04 00:17

Orla Comerford qualified for the final of the T13 100m in style, winning her heat in 12.02 seconds to finish third-fastest of those to reach the final.

Racing widest of all in lane eight, Comerford and 2023 World Championships silver medallist Bianca Borgella were closely matched in the early stages.

However, the Raheny Shamrocks athlete turned on the afterburners in the closing stages to seal a convincing win, with Kym Crosby of the United States back in third.

Comerford's main rivals in tonight's final, which takes place at the Stade de France at 7.13pm, will likely come in the form of Brazil's Rayane Soares da Silva and Lamiya Valiyeva of Azerbaijan.

Valiyeva, who filled the runner-up berth in the event at the Tokyo Games, sizzled to a personal best of 11.81 in heat one, while da Silva clocked a South American record of 11.90 in second place.

Comerford's lifetime best over 100m is 11.90, which the 26-year-old recorded at the National Senior Track and Field Championships at Morton Stadium in June.

"I'm delighted," Comerford said of her performance. "I think this morning was about coming out, being confident, going through the motions, getting through safe and sound and coming back later to put up the fight."

A delay between the two heats didn't exactly knock Comerford off her stride, but she's all too aware that a faster time will likely be required to usurp Valiyeva and da Silva in the race for gold.

"Obviously I'd have liked to run that faster and done a heat in a sub-12, but 12.02, I can't really complain," she added.

"I think the final is where it matters most. So I'm just saving up the good stuff for later!

"It's going to have to be a decisive sub-12 and hopefully a personal best.

"That's what every athlete looks to do when they come to the biggest stage and you know, where they're hoping to peak for the season. So fingers crossed."

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