Ahead of the 200m final, Marie José Ta Lou has helped write a new page in African athletics. The sprinter and her compatriots Murielle Ahouré, Maboundou Koné and Jessica Bay set a new African record in the women's 4X100m relay. It took them just 41s90 to cross the line with the baton. They thus erased the record previously held by Nigeria at last year's Worlds in Eugene (42s22) and became the first girls to run the 4X100m under 10 seconds.
Thanks to this performance, Côte d'Ivoire, second in its semi-final behind the USA, qualifies for the final of the event. The final is scheduled for Saturday afternoon.