Barbadian hurdler Tia-Adana Belle advanced to the semi-finals of the women’s 400 metres hurdles after finishing second in Heat 3 in a season’s best 55.49 seconds at the Tokyo Olympics in Japan tonight.
Belle, with flowing royal blue hair, had a favourable start to the race and maintained pressure on eventual winner Femke Bol of Netherlands until the last 50 metres, when the Dutch hurdler started to pull away from the field. Bol took the victory in a time of 54.43 seconds.
Also advancing to the semifinals are South Africa’s Wenda Nel who finished third in 56.06 seconds and Great Britain’s Jessica Turner who clocked 56.83 to finish fourth.
Jamaican Ronda Whyte was disqualified after false start. (NM)
