Carla Scicluna (right) in action in the 100 metres race alongside Jamaica's superstar Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce
Malta’s track and field sprinter Carla Scicluna managed to progress to the 100 metres first round heats after placing third in her preliminary round race at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics on Friday.
The young sprinter, who was making her debut in an Olympic Games competed in the third preliminary round heat at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo and dashed home in 12.11 seconds to finish third.
Scicluna’s time was 0.06 seconds outside her personal best time.
The race was won by Joella Lloyd, of Antigua, who clocked a time of 11.55 ahead of Malawi’s Asimenye Simwaka (11.76 seconds), and Indonesia’s Alvin Tehupeiory who clocked a time of 11.89.
Scicluna then progressed to the first round when she ran in the fifth heat.
Here, she was up against Jamaican Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce, a two-time Olympic gold medallist in the 100m race in Beijing 2008 and London 2012.
The Jamaican sprinter confirmed her status as one of the favourites when she breezed home in 1084 seconds. She finished ahead of Switzerland’s Ajla del Ponte, who clocked 10.91 and Nigeria’s Grace Nzubechi Nwokocha, who placed third in 11.00.
Scicluna finished the race in eighth place when crossing the finish line in 12.16 seconds.
Shelly Ann Fraser Pryce won the heat in 10.84
Ajla del Ponte second 10.91 and Nigeria’s Grace Nzubechi Nwokocha 11.00
