Second in her 400m hurdles semi-final, behind Sydney McLaughlin, Louise Maraval qualified for the final.
Frenchwoman Louise Maraval qualified on Tuesday for the Olympic final of the 400m hurdles, the scene of the expected duel between American Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Dutchwoman Femke Bol at the Paris Games.
For her first Olympic Games at 23, Maraval, European silver medallist in June in Rome behind Bol, took second place in her series in 53 sec 83, this time behind McLaughlin-Levrone.
McLaughlin clocked the fastest time in the semi-finals, running 52.13 seconds. Better than Bol who ran 52.57 seconds.
The women’s 400m hurdles final is scheduled for Thursday evening. Between McLaughlin, reigning Olympic champion in the 400m hurdles and who further improved the world record in the specialty at the American selections at the end of June (50.65), and Bol, reigning world champion (in McLaughlin’s absence) and who became the second woman under 51 seconds in mid-July, it promises to be a game of sparks.
