Sprinter Zoe Hobbs cruised comfortably into the women’s 100m semifinals when she finished second in her heat in 11.08 seconds.
Also on the first day of athletics competition at the Paris Olympics at Stade de France, New Zealanders Tom Walsh and Jacko Gill qualified for the men's shot put final during qualifying on Friday (Saturday NZ Time).
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Hobbs, 26, eased up near the end once she had her race position locked up at Stade de France on Friday, but still looked a quality runner.
It is not often New Zealand produces a sprinter of her class, although Paris is an appropriate venue for her to shine – when the Olympics were last held in Paris, in 1924, Arthur Porritt claimed the men's 100m bronze medal, the only sprint medal New Zealand has won at the Olympics.
Hobbs’ time was the seventh-fastest of the 16 semifinalists, with Briton Darryl Neita the fastest qualifier with 10.92 seconds.
The Taranaki runner said the atmosphere in the main stadium was incredible and she tried to draw on it without becoming over-stimulated.
“I felt awesome out there today. When there was about 30 or 40 metres left, I knew I was in second and just needed to relax and let it flow.
“If I can add another element in the semifinals, that’s pretty exciting.”
Walsh and Gill both achieved the automatic qualifying standard of 21.35m for Saturday's shot put final with their second throws at the main stadium.
Gill managed 21.13m with his first, before uncorking 21.35m with his second, eventually finishing fourth in Group A, while Walsh threw 20.65m with his first, then produced 21.48m with his second.
Neither bothered with their third attempts, with Walsh fifth and Gill sixth overall, with only six throwers reaching the automatic standard. The leading throw was by Italy's Leonardo Fabbri with 21.76m.
The Kiwi pair will compete for medals on Saturday (5.35am Sunday NZT).
Earlier, Sam Tanner finished 13th in his 1500m heat and will have to run in Saturday’s repechage to see if he can earn a spot in the semifinals.
Tanner, 23, never seemed at ease over the closing stages and eventually recorded 3 minutes 39.87 seconds. His heat was won by the Netherlands’ Stefan Nillessen with 3:36.77.
“I planned to make my move with about 700 to go and I did. I was expecting a few guys to blow up a bit after the aggressive earlier racing, but it didn’t happen. Then I just didn’t have the legs.
“I didn’t time it right, which is frustrating. It was a bit of a balls-up really.”
Tanner, who has been trying to overcome some injury concerns to get ready for the Olympics, said he had to be at peak fitness for the Games and is not quite there yet.
“I’m not quite where I want to be. But I still have the repechage and I’m still hoping I can make the semifinals.”
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