Paris 2024 Olympics: Nigeria draw Great Britain, Jamaica in Women’s 4x100m heat

The Nigerian women’s 4x100m relay team have been against world leader, Great Britain and a very weakened Jamaican team in the first semifinal heat of the event scheduled to hold on Thursday at the Stade de France in Saint-Dennis, Paris.

The Nigerians, expected to be led by 200m finalist, Favour Ofili have been drawn in lane four and will also challenge for one of the three automatic tickets on offor with the host nation, France, Spain, Canada and the impressive Dutch team who has ran 42.39 this season.

Great Britain, with a 41.55 world lead achieved at the London Diamond League meeting last month are expected to pick one of the tickets.

Jamaica are also expected to fight to defend the title they won in Tokyo three years ago despite the fact they will be without two-time Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who pulled out of the semi-finals of the women’s 100m on Saturday due to injury, and Shericka Jackson, who also withdrew from the 100m and 200m competitions.

Also out is double-double Olympic sprint champion Elaine Thompson Herah was a regular member of Jamaica’s 4x100m relay teams but ended her season prematurely this year, also because of injury.

Another team that will fight the Nigerians for the two other tickets are the host nation who holds a 42.10 personal season’s best and the Netherlands.

Nigeria will be eager to return to the final after failing to get past the semifinals stage three years ago. The Nigerians hold a personal season’s best of 42.71 which they ran at the World Relays in the Bahamas to secure their spot at the Paris 2024 Olympics.