Published: June 25, 2025
OSTRAVA, Czech Republic – Liberian sprinter Thelma Davies has set a new national record in the women’s 100 meters, clocking 10.91 seconds at the World Athletics Continental Tour’s Golden Spike meet in Ostrava.
Davies edged out Ivorian sprint legend Marie-Josée Ta Lou-Smith, who finished a close second in 10.92 seconds. Ta Lou-Smith, 36, is a two-time World Championships medalist and holds the African records in both the 100 and 200 meters.
The 25-year-old Davies previously represented Liberia at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, making her debut on the sport’s biggest stage.
A graduate of Louisiana State University (LSU), Davies competed in heat one, lane two, at the Olympics, lining up against world No. 1 and U.S. fan favorite Sha’Carri Richardson, a fellow LSU alum. She finished that race in 12.05 seconds after suffering a hamstring tweak mid-race.
“The first 30 meters felt great,” Davies told Go Team Liberia in a post-race interview. “But when it was time to turn over, my hamstring started tweaking again, and I was like, ‘Not again.’”
She initially sustained the injury during her women’s 4×100-meter relay debut with Team Liberia at the 2024 African Championships in Douala, Cameroon.
Despite the setback, Davies remained focused on recovery—and her recent performance in Ostrava signals that the hard work is paying off.
“The results of her recovery are starting to show,” a Team Liberia official said, hailing the record-breaking run as “a major step forward for Liberian athletics.”
Her standout performance in Ostrava positions Davies as one of the rising stars in African sprinting, following in the footsteps of national standout Ebony Morrison.
Morrison made history as the first woman on Liberia’s national track team to win a title at the African Senior Championships, claiming gold in Cameroon.
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