Featured image by Madeah Addy
Sprinters Thelma Davies and Destiny Smith-Barnett made their Olympic debut representing Liberia in round one of the women’s 100m Paris2024 race, on 2, August. The runners did not advance to the next round due to injuries.
Despite the unfortunate results, both ladies had a successful track season filled with personal bests and other big wins.
Thelma Davies competed in Paris2024 women’s 100m heat one
Davies, who recently graduated from Louisiana State University in the US, ran in heat one, lane two against No.1 ranked sprinter, US fan favorite, and fellow LSU alum Sha’carri Richardson. The Liberian runner finished in 12.05 seconds after experiencing a “tweak” in her hamstring.
“The first 30 felt great,” Davies told Go Team Liberia, during a post-race interview. “But when it was time to turnover, my hamstring started tweaking again, and I was like ‘not again.'”
Last month, Davies pulled her hamstring during her women’s 4x100m relay debut with Team Liberia at the African Championships in Douala, Cameroon. Despite the injury her team managed to win a bronze at the African Championships.
Since the initial injury, Davies said she’s been working on her recovery and preparing for Paris2024. The Liberian sprinter finished last in her Olympic heat after falling behind midway through the race, but she still experienced several milestones this season. Earlier in the year, Davies ran an 11.01, which would’ve been enough to advance to the semifinals. Richardson, who placed first in the heat, ran a 10.94, followed by Luxemberg’s Patriza Van Der Weken’s 11.14, and Australia’s Bree Masters’ 11.26.
Regardless, Davies said she will focus on her recovery and returning to the track healthier next season.
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Destiny Smith-Barnett competed in heat two
Smith-Barnett, the women’s 100m national record-holder (10.99), competed in heat two, lane seven of the Paris2024 women’s 100m race. Similar to her teammate, Smith-Barnett also suffered a hamstring injury that prevented her from performing at her best.
“I actually have a torn hamstring,” Smith Barnett told GTL. “So, I went out there, I gave it my all. I feel like I didn’t do enough for you guys, but I’mma get it next time.”
The national record-holder shared that her injury was relatively new, but she felt it best to push through in order to represent Liberia in the moment. Both ladies did not receive full technical and medical clearance to compete, but were given the option to perform regardless, according to a Team Liberia staff member.
Saint Lucia, New Zealand, and Italy all advanced in heat two. Smith-Barnett completed the heat in 11.99 seconds and finished eighth.
Though she did not perform as expected at the Olympic Games, Smith-Barnett wraps up her season as an African Games silver medalist and African Championships bronze medalist in the women’s 4x100m relay.
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What’s next for Team Liberia
Emmanuel Matadi will compete in round one of the men’s 100m race on 3, August. Matadi ran sub-10 several times throughout the season and is expected to advance if all goes well on the purple track.
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