The Ivorian sprinter expressed her surprise at the kind of love she received in Kingston during the Jamaica Athletics Invitational on Saturday.
Africa’s fastest woman Marie Josee Ta Lou-Smith has explained how she was moved by the love Jamaican fans showed her.
Ta Lou-Smith clocked a season’s best (SB) of 10.91s to win the women’s 100m at the Jamaica Athletics Invitational in Kingston on Saturday, an event that attracted global athletics stars on and off the track.
She finished ahead of a brilliant Jamaican Krystal Sloley, who ran a Personal Best of 11.09, and compatriot Kemba Nelson, who clocked 11.12.
Africa’s fastest woman received a special treat from Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce during her visit to Jamaica for a competition.
Fans showered the Ivorian sprinter with love and observers were quick to point out how quickly Jamaicans embraced her despite the track competition with their own athletes.
“Love, our good sister MaJo [Marie Josee] Taking from the Jamaicans is just a grace to witness.” one fan remarked.
The sprinter then replied: “Sure bro, it was like a dream, I was crying. I’m still emotional about yesterday, the love, the support. GOD bless Jamaica.”
Meanwhile, Britain’s Dina Usher-Smith, who has Jamaican roots, also received plenty of love from the crowd before going on to win the 200m.
The 2019 world champion narrowly won the event in 22.51 ahead of Ivory Coast’s Jessika Gbai (22.53) with Jamaica’s Lanae-Tava Thomas rounding out the podium in 22.84.
“I’m in really good shape so I was hoping to have a faster time today. Obviously, I have some things I need to work on, so I’ll go back to Austin and work on them, but I’m happy to win here in Jamaica.” he said.
It was a British 200m double as world 100m bronze medalist Jarnell Hughes clocked a season’s best 19.96 to win the men’s race ahead of American Fred Curley (20.17) and France’s Pablo Matteo (20.20 ).
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