A first athletics gold for Puerto Rico through Jasmine Camacho-Quinn or will Kendra Harrison seal Olympic redemption (she failed to qualify for the USA in 2016 despite being the fastest in the world) for the USA? There’s plenty more that will be hoping to add their names to the mix. Here’s our women’s 100m hurdles preview for Tokyo.
Schedule
Saturday 31 July 02:45 UK Time (Heats) Sunday 1 August 11:45 UK Time (Semifinals) Monday 2 August 03:50 UK Time (Final)
2021 Fastest Times
| 2021 Rankings | Time (s) | Athlete | Country |
| 1 | 12.32 | Jasmine Camacho-Quinn | Puerto Rico |
| 2 | 12.44 | Tonea Marshall | USA |
| 3 | 12.47 | Kendra Harrison | USA |
| 4 | 12.48 | Tobi Amusan | Nigeria |
| 5 | 12.5 | Brianna McNeal | USA |
| 6 | 12.51 | Christina Clemons | USA |
| 7 | 12.53 | Cindy Sember | GB & NI |
| 7 | 12.53 | Gabriele Cunningham | USA |
| 9 | 12.54 | Anna Cockrell | USA |
| 10 | 12.58 | Britany Anderson | Jamaica |
British interest
Sisters Tiffany Porter and Cindy Sember make up the British representation with the later an outside chance for a medal. Sember won the Gateshead Diamond League and a silver medal in 60m Hurdles at the Euro Indoors earlier this year but was actually third in the British Championships behind her sister and Alicia Barrett. She is the fifth fastest of those in Tokyo. Tiffany Porter is a world class performer on her day, having won world bronze in 2013 but is nearing the end of her career.
The favourites
Jasmine Camacho-Quinn has won every 100m hurdles race she has entered this year (barring a DQ in a low level meet in Florida) and has run under 12.50 six times this year. Kendra Harrison has won every race herself (barring one DNF) and run under 12.50, yes you guessed it, six times this year. These two are the clear favourites and Camacho-Quinn would appear to have the edge just judging on the level of opposition she has faced this year, winning in Hengelo, Florence and Székesfehérvár. Harrison is the world champ and world record holder and if up to that level will likely be a class above.
The second fastest in the world, Tonea Marshall of the USA didn’t make it out of the US trials with the rest of the team made up of Christina Clemons and Gabby Cunningham, both of whom have strong claims of a medal. Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan will be an interesting prospect and has had a number of wins across the US. She was fourth in the Doha World Champs.
Our medal predictions
- Kendra Harrison
- Jasmine Camacho-Quinn
- Tobi Amusan
Records
WR: 12.20 Kendra Harrison (2016)
OR: 12.35 Sally Pearson (2012 London)
Featured image “Olympics: Track and Field-Women’s 100m Hurdles-Semifinalslympics: Track and Field-Women’s 100m Hurdles-Final” by Hampton University is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0
