Alaysha Johnson of the United States emerged as the fastest qualifier in the women’s 100m hurdles semi-finals, clocking an impressive 12.34 seconds to secure her place in Saturday’s final. The race was intensely competitive, with Johnson narrowly edging out defending Olympic champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico, who finished just 0.01 seconds behind with a time of 12.35 seconds.
Johnson’s performance marks a significant achievement in her career, as she continues to build momentum towards the final. Camacho-Quinn, who won gold at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, remains a strong contender, but Johnson’s swift time has positioned her as a favourite heading into the last race.
However, the big news from the semi-finals was the shock exit of Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan, the current world record holder in the event. Amusan, who set the world record of 12.12 seconds at the World Athletics Championships in 2022, could only manage a time of 12.55 seconds in the semi-finals, leaving her in ninth place overall. This result places her just outside the top eight qualifiers, dashing her hopes of defending her title in the final.
Amusan’s journey has been remarkable, as she rose to global prominence with her record-breaking performance in Eugene, Oregon. Her absence from the final will be keenly felt, as she had been widely expected to be a leading contender for the gold medal.
The women’s 100m hurdles final is now set to be a closely contested race, with Johnson and Camacho-Quinn leading the charge. The final, scheduled for Saturday, promises to be an exciting showdown as the world’s best hurdlers vie for the coveted title.