What else does Jamaica have to look forward to so we can come home with 6 or 7 medals, 8 max? – The Women’s 100m hurdles with one eye open and the Relays.
Women’s 100m Hurdles HEATS
While you were sleeping,
Danielle Williams won her Heat comfortably in 12.66. She finished ahead of the German, Pamela Dutkiewicz who ran 12.74. All 4 Qualifiers in that Heat dipped under 13s!
Megan Simmonds got off to a great start and also won her Heat comfortably in 12.78s. Not sure if she will make the Final but if all goes well, she looks like the only Jamaican that could join Danielle Williams to represent Jamaica in the Final. She beat American, Nia Ali who finished 2nd in 12.93. Tiffany Porter of Great Britain surprisingly finished 6th in 13.18 and will not advance to the Semis.
Yanique Thompson finished a close 3rd in her Heat in 12.88 (.877) to Alina Talay of Belarus who ran 12.88 (.876) to finish 2nd and the World Record Holder from the USA, Kendra Harrison finished 1st in 12.60.
*N.B. Kendra choked in the US Trials coming 6th and failed to make the RIO Olympic team but came back earlier this year showing a lot of character to break the World Record of 12.21 that has been there since 1988! Her PB and the new World Record is currently 12.20.
Rushelle Burton ran well to finish 3rd in her Heat with 12.94 to 2 Olympic Champs, Sally Pearson back from injuries (London) who was 1st in 12.72 and USA’s Dawn Harper-Nelson (Beijing) who was 2nd in 12.88.
*NB. Sally Pearson had a nasty fall in 2015 breaking both wrists, dislocating one of them. She then was trying to return to RIO but tore her hamstring. After a rough 2 years, the Aussie is back in good form.
USA’s Christina Manning won the last Heat comfortably in 12.86. Nadine Visser of the Netherlands finished 2nd in 12.96, just ahead of Amisan of Nigeria who ran 12.97.
So for this one it’s USA VS. THE REST OF THE WORLD. Since Kendra qualified as a wild card, there are 4 Americans. Our Defending World Champ, Danielle Williams also qualified as a Wild Card so we have 4 Jamaicans entered in the event as well.
It’s hurdles so who can break up the USA party? I think a lot of people can do so. Nia Ali who is the 2nd best American threat looke vulnerable in her Heat. According to paper, Sally Pearson of Australia can put herself in between USA’s Kendra Harrison and Nia Ali for Silver. If our Danielle Williams runs outside of her PB of 12.56, it is possible for her to get the Bronze. I won’t be surprised or disappointed if she doesn’t medal. For her to become World Champ in 2015, a lot of the big names either fell or false started. We cannot count out Past Olympic Champ, Dawn Harper-Nelson of the USA, Nigeria’s Oluwatobiloba Amusan, USA’s Christina Manning, Nadine Visser of the anyone and the German, Pamela Dutkiewicz, who can all contest that 3rd place finish on the podium. This 100m Women’s Hurdles field is extremely competitive this year!
Let’s see how the Semis go later and see if anyone flips the script because at least 1 of the names previously mentioned as a contender for a medal cannot make the Final. If our Megan Simmonds improves a little more, she can be in the mix as well!
The Semis are TODAY at 1:05pm. Finals tomorrow!
By: Gabrielle Burgess
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