Jenna Martin has advanced to the semifinals in the 400 metres at the London Olympics.

The 24-year-old Bridgewater runner used a late charge to finish third in her seven-woman preliminary heat on Friday and earn a berth in Saturday night’s semifinals.

Martin will race in the first of three semis – in the outside Lane 9 – Saturday at 4:05 p.m. Atlantic time, which is 8:05 p.m. in London. Martin must finish in the top two to guarantee herself a spot in Sunday’s final. Those with the top-two overall times outside the top-two finishers from the three races also advance.

In Friday’s race, Martin posted a time of 51.98, beating out 19-year-old Omolara Omotosho of Nigeria, who finished at 52.11 and was third as the runners headed down the final 100 metres. Martin was fifth at that time.

“I just wanted it,” Martin said to Sportsnet about her strong final 100 metres.

DeeDee Trotter of the United States won the heat with a mark of 50.87.

Overall, there were seven heats in the 400m Friday with Martin finishing in a tie for 14th overall.