The final of the women's 100m Hurdles was a truly stellar and salivating event. Unfortunately, the American defending World Champion, Nia Ali, literally crashed out in the semifinals, having clattered a couple of hurdles towards the ending of the race.
The semifinals
It is instructive to note that the semifinal round was extraordinary in so many ways, with a World Record, several National Records and Personal Bests. In semifinal 1, Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan, having ran 12.40 in the heats, erased Kendra Harrison's six-year-old World Record of 12.20, to set an eye-popping 12.12 World Record. Kendra Harrison and Danielle Williams were second and third, in season's bests of 12.27 and 12.41, respectively. Cindy Sember of Great Britain was fourth in a National Record of 12.50. All four women from this semifinal, advanced to the final.
Semifinal 2 produced two finalists in Alia Armstrong of the US and Devynne Charlton of the Bahamas; both posted personal bests of 12.43 and 12.45, respectively. Notwithstanding the fact, that Megan Tapper the Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist, posted a personal best 12.52, and this was still not good enough for her to secure a spot in the final.
Semifinal 3 also produced two qualifiers for the final in Brittany Anderson of Jamaica, and Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico. Anderson posted 12.31 for a national record, and Camacho-Quinn posted 12.32 for a season's best.
The Final
The eight women who advanced to the final were Tobi Amusan (12.12WR), Kendra Harrison (12.27SB), Brittany Anderson (12.31NR), Jasmine Camacho-Quinn (12.32SB), Danielle Williams (12.41SB), Alia Armstrong (12.43PB), Devynne Charlton (12.45PB) and Cindy Sember (12.50NR). Never in the history of the female 100m hurdles has there ever been such a stellar array of talents in a final. Indeed, it promised much fireworks and it delivered as promised.
Amusan shocking performance (12.06, +2.5m/s)
The race was off in frenetic pace. However, at mid-race, the swift speed between the hurdles and the technical efficiency of Tobi Amusan over the hurdles were evident as Amusan began to separate herself from the field with sublime hurdling. The Jamaican, Brittany Anderson was hurdling quite competently and magnificently, and Jasmine Camacho-Quinn was finishing fast on the outside. The twenty-five-year-old Tobi Amusan stopped the clock in 12.06, sending spectators and viewers in a frenzy. This would have a historic performance however the windspeed was +2.5m/s which is above the allowable 2.0 m/s. Nevertheless, 12.06 was a ridiculously fast time. Both Anderson and Camacho-Quinn were timed in a 12.23 photo finish. However, on the thousand digits, the Jamaican was awarded second place and the silver medal. Needless to say, Camacho-Quinn was adjudged to be third, and was awarded the bronze medal.
Alia Armstrong and Cindy Sember were fourth and fifth in 12.31 and 12.38, respectively, while Danielle Williams was sixth in 12.44. Devynne Charlton of the Bahamas was seventh in 12.53.
Harrison crashes out
The American Kendra Harrison was disqualified having crashed out of the race, as she too clattered the hurdles towards the latter part of the race, just like her compatriot, Nia Ali, in the semifinal round. Harrison never completed the race. The race was truly an epic encounter. Indeed, it was one for the ages that has been indelibly etched in the mind for all times.
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Henley Taylor
Freelance Sportswriter
Henleytaylor1965@gmail.com
Edited by Raymond Byfield
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