Dawn Harper (R) competes with her compatriot Damu Cherry. (Photo credit: Xinhua)
(BEIJING, August 20) — American Dawn Harper has caused an upset in the final of the Women’s 100m Hurdles to claim the Olympic gold medal at the National Stadium on Tuesday, August 19.
Harper ran a personal best time of 12.54s putting her just ahead of Australia’s national record holder, Sally McLellan who ran in 12.64s to claim silver.
Canada’s Priscilla Lopes-Schliep also ran 12.64s, but walks away with bronze after a photo finish managed to separate the two.
It is Canada’s first track and field medal since 1996.
The result came as a shock to McLellan. “Oh my God. Is this real? This is amazing. I can’t believe this is even happening,” she said upon seeing the results of the photo finish.
World indoor champion and pre-race favorite Lolo Jones of the United States burst from the blocks just behind McLellan and took the lead at the second hurdle. The race appeared to be won until she clipped the eighth – and second last – hurdle.
The 26-year-old lost her momentum and the remainder of the field passed her in the final few meters.
“Honestly, it’s a shock. It always happens, who knows, and she [Dawn Harper, US] was really fast,” she said.
Jones, who ran the fastest time in the world this year (12.43s) in the semifinals, crossed the line in seventh place.
Harper’s win may come as a surprise to many after she finished third in the US Olympic trials, knocking Nichole Denby off the team. She has no previous international experience.
Experienced campaigners Delloreen Ennis-London and Bridgitte Foster-Hylton, both of Jamaica, finished in fifth and sixth respectively.
(Source: en.beijing2008.cn)
