Pierre is one of 21 sprinters in the semifinals, which will start Saturday, June 23, at 6:40 p.m. eastern standard time. The top two finishers in each of the three semifinal heats plus the next two fastest times qualify for the finals, which will be held later Saturday at 8:52 p.m. est. Pierre is running in the first heat which includes top U.S. sprinters Allyson Felix and Carmelita Jeter.
The top three finishers in each of the five preliminary heats plus the next six best times advanced to the semifinals. Pierre finished fourth in the first preliminary heat but her time was among the next six fastest of sprinters who did not automatically qualify.
A Saint Augustine’s College graduate, Pierre was a two-time NCAA Division II 100 meter champion (2007, 2008) with the Lady Falcons. She still shares the Division II 100 meter championship record (11.18). Pierre is one of four former St. Aug track athletes who qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials. Both Jamaal Torrance and Josh Scott competed in the men’s 400 meter preliminaries on Friday and neither advanced to the semifinals. Bershawn “Batman” Jackson will run in the qualifying round of the men’s 400 meter hurdles on June 28.
