KINGSTON, Jamaica – For the first time in nearly half a century (since Montreal in 1976), Jamaica will not be represented in the women’s 200m final at the Olympic Games.

First-time Olympians Niesha Burgher and Lana-Tava Thomas failed to advance past the semi-finals on Monday at Stade de France.

Both women finished fifth in their respective semi-final races, missing out on Tuesday evening’s final.

Burgher clocked 22.64 seconds (0.2m/s) in her heat, which was won by American medal favourite Gabby Thomas in 21.86 seconds. Great Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith was second with 22.31 seconds, and France’s Helene Parisot clocked a personal best of 22.55 seconds.

Thomas, who placed second at the JAAA National Championships, ran 22.77 seconds (0.1m/s). Brittany Brown of the USA won with 22.12 seconds, followed by Great Britain’s Daryll Neita with 22.24 seconds, and Jessika Gbai of the Ivory Coast, who ran a lifetime best of 22.36 seconds.

Jamaica’s national champion over the distance, Shericka Jackson, pulled out of the competition on Sunday. She did not line up in the opening round and was listed as ‘Did Not Start’ after failing to show up to the call room in Paris.

It is understood that Jackson is still not fully recovered from the injury that forced her to withdraw from the 100m earlier in the Games.

READ: #ParisOlympics: Shericka Jackson pulls out of 200m

-Paul A Reid