With a time of 53.07, Helena Ponette took 4th place in her semi-final, while the top three qualified for the final. She finished with the 7th time of the semi-finalists.
To climb into the semi-finals, Helena Ponette, 23, had managed Friday morning to take 3rd place in her series, 5th, in a time especially of 52.31, which had allowed her to pass the time, but with all the even the 3rd time of the entries. It is his personal best, far ahead of his 53.23 achieved at the Belgian championships in Ghent last month.
Camille Laus, 29, for his part, who has already run in 52.38 (this year in Metz), had to settle for a 3rd place in his series with a time of 53.12, insufficient to be among the 13 semi-finalists , despite the 12th fastest time of the 27 entered in the series.
The first two of each series and the two best times afterwards were indeed qualified for the semi-finals.
World record holder Femke Bol of the Netherlands clocked the fastest time of the semi-finalists in 52.19.
The final is scheduled for Saturday at 6:30 p.m.