BEIJING — Muna Lee said that she has never felt better after continuing her run for an Olympic medal Wednesday at the “Bird’s Nest” National Stadium as the former LSU standout set a new personal best to earn a spot in the final of the women’s 200-meter dash.
Lee raced to the finish line in 22.29 seconds to finish third in the first of two semifinal heats with the top four finishers in each heat advancing to Thursday’s final at 6:30 a.m. CT.
“I felt pretty good. My coach wanted me to get out harder again,” Lee said. “It felt really easy, and I didn’t break my form. I find something new every time. I didn’t break my form. I wanted to place higher to get a better lane, but I made the final. I’m not complaining at all. It’s going to be a really good, competitive final tomorrow.”
The final of the women’s 200 meters is another much-anticipated showdown between the United States and Jamaica at these Olympic Games as all three competitors from each country advanced.
Lee, who will line up on the outside in lane 9 in the final, will race against the likes of Jamaicans Veronica Campbell-Brown, Kerron Stewart and Sherone Simpson and Americans Allyson Felix and Marshevet Hooker. Campbell-Brown is the defending Olympic champion in the event, while Felix won the silver medal at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.
This marks the second time in her career that Lee has qualified for the 200-meter final as she was the seventh-place finisher in her Olympic debut four years ago. It is also her second appearance in a final this year as she placed fifth in the 100-meter dash on Sunday.
Olympic 100-meter silver medalist Richard Thompson and fellow Trinidad & Tobago teammate Kelly Baptiste will also return to the track on Thursday as they run in the qualifying round of the 4×100-meter relay. Thompson will line up at 7:20 a.m. CT followed by Baptiste at 7:50 a.m. CT.