Jamaicans will continue to flourish in hurdles – Thompson
Yanique Thompson hopes that Jamaica’s 100m hurdlers will continue to ride the crest of a wave they have been on since the fiasco which unfolded in the final of the 100m hurdles race at the National Senior Championships back in June.
The Commonwealth Games bronze medallist is among four athletes who will represent Jamaica in the event at the IAAF World Championships, after Danielle Williams, who was at the centre of the incident at the National Championships, was awarded a wild card entry after winning the Diamond Trophy in the event in the IAAF’s Diamond League series.
“I was really elated that four of us will represent Jamaica in the event, with the fact that the final race didn’t run at the National Championships and caused a lot of controversy, but I am glad it came out to be a good conclusion,” Thompson said.
PERSONAL BEST TIME
Thompson and Williams will be accompanied by Megan Tapper and new kid on the block Janeek Brown, who briefly owned the national record with her personal best time of 12.40 seconds, before it was obliterated by Williams’ 12.32 effort at the London Diamond League in July.
“I think that we will do well,” Thompson said. “For me personally, I want to make it to the final this time. The last World Championships, I missed the final by .01 seconds and that was disappointing, but this, I just want to make the final and it is an obstacle event, so anything can happen.”
Williams, the 2015 World champion, will start as favourite after she dominated the European circuits, winning four out of her last five races with her world leading time of 12.32 seconds.
The 27-year-old was adjudged to have false-started in the final at National Trials and was not allowed to run under protest. The event was cancelled after the race was sent off after Williams left the track, but it was not completed as several of the competitors complained to have never heard the starter’s gun. The race was then officially ruled ‘null and void’ by the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association.