By Helen Reid
PARIS (Reuters) – The small Caribbean nation of Dominica stands a chance of winning its first Olympic medal in Paris thanks to triple jumper Thea LaFond who qualified on Friday for the final, having become indoor world champion this year.
The absence of Venezuela’s Yulimar Rojas, world record holder and Tokyo gold medallist, due to an Achilles tendon injury opens the door for the rest of the field.
Cuba’s Leyanis Perez Hernandez led qualifying with a leap of 14.68m and Jamaica’s Shanieka Ricketts jumped 14.47m. Spain’s Ana Peleteiro-Compaore, bronze medallist in Tokyo, also qualified.
Athletes had to jump at least 14.35m, or be among the 12 best performers, to qualify for the final on Saturday.
(Reporting by Helen Reid, editing by Ed Osmond)
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