Puerto Rican Jasmine Camacho-Quinn wins women's 100m hurdle gold
Camacho-Quinn dominates a top-notch field, clearing away from the sixth jump to win in 12.37 and cap an incredible season in sprint hurdling.USA’s Kendra Harrison (12.52) claims silver - her first Olympic medal - in a photo finish over fast-finishing Jamaican Megan Tapper (12.55). Harrison did well to steady herself after clipping the eighth jump.
But this was all about Camacho-Quinn. It seems nobody can hold a candle to her. A stunning display of power, precision and technical brilliance from the Puerto Rican. In a tight finish for the silver medal, the world No. 2 crossed the line in 12.52, just 0.03 ahead of Jamaica’s Megan Tapper, who took home the bronze.
Camacho-Quinn did not improve on the Olympic record of 12.26 she set in the semi-finals, but she did win the first athletics gold in Puerto Rico’s history and the country’s second-ever medal. Tennis player Monica Puig won Puerto Rico's first gold medal in 2016. The medal was a kind of absolution for Camacho-Quinn, whose first Olympic experience was a heart-breaking one she was disqualified in 2016.
In Rio, the Puerto Rican sprinter was among the leaders in her semi-final until she clipped the eighth hurdle. Unable to maintain her form and composure, Camacho-Quinn knocked down the ninth before stumbling and falling to the track. Her journey to get to the Olympic Games in Tokyo has had "its up and downs" and has "been a roller-coaster".
In her words, "everything happens for a reason"."I was really running for the world record," explains the Puerto Rican recalling the race. "I hit the hurdle, but everything happens for a reason." I came through with the gold. My first gold medal." "I think all of us honestly, we all should be rewarded for this. We made it," she added.
In 2016, Harrison also had a year to remember - the American runner set a world record of 12.20 in the 100m hurdles. Still, she failed to qualify for the Olympics in Rio due to finishing fourth in the US trials." I missed out in 2016, so to come here and get a medal for my country, I couldn't be happier," said Harrison.
"It feels great. You put so much work into this, and you train so hard. To come out here and capture it, I couldn't be happier." One of my downfalls is when I come up against the stronger athletes, and I knew it would be a tough race with Jasmine (Camacho-Quinn)," she added, "but I couldn't be happier."
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