Leah Bertrand 'proud' to reach women's 100m semis, shifts focus to 4x100m relay

DESPITE bowing out of the women’s 100m semi-finals at the Stade de France on August 3, Trinidad and Tobago’s Leah Bertrand said there were many positives coming out of her debut Olympic performance.

Bertrand, 22, placed ninth in heat two of the third and final semi-final heat in 11.37 seconds and did not advance to the medal race. However, she was pleased to make it past the first round on August 2, courtesy a third-place finish (11.27s) in heat six of eight.

“I’m proud of what I was able to accomplish,” said the Ohio State University senior. “I’m looking forward to using this experience to do better in the future. It’s not all disappointment but there is motivation. My Olympic experience so far has been good. I have a lot of positives to take out of it. Qualifying to the semis, still being healthy and gaining experience on this stage is a great achievement.”

When Newsday spoke to Bertrand after her round-one race, the ASJA Girls College San Fernando graduate said she wanted to improve on the early parts of her race. She did but may have placed too much emphasis on correcting the early stages of her race.

“The race in particular, I didn’t really like how I executed it. I felt like I could have executed a little better from a technical standpoint.

“In round one, it was really the beginning of my race that was not the best so I felt like today (August 3), it was the middle and ending of my race that wasn’t the best. So I don’t know if I was focusing too much on the start that I was not able to set up the way I normally do,” she added.

She believes the highlight of her Olympic campaign so far was progressing to the semi-final round. Compatriot and four-time Olympian Michelle-Lee Ahye was not so lucky as she placed fourth (11.33s) in heat two of round one, and was eliminated.

“Last year at World I didn’t even make it this far. I was out in the first round so qualifying for the semis was my highlight, and being able to run. I feel like this is a good stepping stone.”

Now, Bertrand said, she must shift her focus to next week’s women’s 4x100m relay qualifier event. There, she, Ahye, Sole Frederick, Akilah Lewis and Sanaa Frederick (reserve) have one last chance to chase a precious Olympic podium place.

She will use the coming days to wind down from the 100m but also put in much preparation ahead of the relay qualifiers.

“The focus will be mainly on the relay so we can go out and do the best. Our goal is always to win a medal. The focus is on the relays.”

Bertrand also celebrated St Lucia’s Julien Alfred’s historic 100m gold performance in the final. Alfred shocked the world when she won the final in 10.72s and ahead of American favourite She’Carri Richardson, who clocked 10.87s. Richardson’s teammate Melissa Jefferson took bronze in 10.92s.

“I saw the final and I was so happy to see that Julien won. I felt really happy for her because she’s around my age and we talk sometimes. To see her win I was so happy. I felt like I won. She deserved it.”

After her stint in Paris, Bertrand said she will return to her US base.