“CHANGING OF THE GUARD.” The phrase itself is a cliché, but there is no more apt description of a Trials race where three newbies to the Olympic team upended veterans with résumés boasting World golds, Olympic medals and World Records.
At the end, three hurdlers embraced, faces perhaps new to the casual track & field fan, with Masai Russell celebrating the win in a Trials Record 12.25.
Friday’s first round set the tone, especially with heat II, where Masai Russell ran a PR to edge Alaysha Johnson, 12.35–12.37. Heat I had seen Tonea Marshall lead in 12.41; heat III belonged to Christina Clemons (12.56), and in heat IV American Recordholder Keni Harrison edged Florida’s NCAA champ, Grace Stark, 12.49–12.52. Every finisher made it through to the semis, allowing ’19 World champion Nia Ali to saunter through in 20.38 — probably the slowest mark to advance in Trials history.
The speed didn’t let up in the semis. Clemons edged Harrison by 0.009 to take the first as both ran 12.52. In the second, Johnson and Marshall both ran 12.36, separated by 0.004; it was a PR for Marshall. In the third, Russell ran a 12.36 to stay ahead of Stark’s 12.45 PR. Tia Jones, who had tied the World Record for the 60H indoors then succumbed to injury, had run 12.90 in the heats but did not contest the semi.
Russell drew lane 4 for the final. To her left were Talia Bonds (1), Ali (2) and Harrison (3). To her right, Johnson (5,) Marshall (6), Clemons (7), Stark (8) and Ali Armstrong in 9.
At the start, Ali and Marshall got out fastest, but would need more than quick starts to make the team. By the third hurdle, Stark and Johnson were perceptibly gaining and by 4, Johnson moved into the lead. She held that for most of the race, while behind her 5 others still posed a threat. At hurdle 9, they caught her and with one hurdle to go, any one of the 6 might have triumphed.
Russell emerged from the battle to take the lead at the final hurdle, and with the fastest finish she hit 12.25, becoming the No. 2 American ever (and =No. 4 among earthlings). Johnson held on for a 12.31 PR, just 0.007 faster than the PR 12.31 from Stark in 3rd. Ali had to settle for 4th in 12.37, Marshall 5th in 12.38, and Harrison 6th in 12.39 — the same time that won World gold last summer. From 3rd through 6th, they were the fastest-ever times in history.
Said the winner, “I ran 12.8 like a couple weeks ago and now I’m talking about breaking the Olympic Trials meet record. It just shows that I’m capable of breaking the World Record. I believe that I can respectfully touch the World Record — I don’t know when, I don’t know where.”
WOMEN’S 100H RESULTS
FINAL (June 30; wind +0.7)
1. Masai Russell (Nike) 12.25 PR (=4, =7 W; 2, 4 A) (MR);
2. Alaysha Johnson (unat) 12.31 (=5, =9 A);
3. Grace Stark (adidas) 12.31 (=5, =9 A);
4. Nia Ali (Nike) 12.37;
5. Tonea Marshall (Nike) 12.38;
6. Keni Harrison (adidas) 12.39;
7. Christina Clemons (Doritos) 12.61;
8. Talie Bonds (unat) 12.85;
9. Alia Armstrong (LSU) 12.89.
(best-ever mark-for-place: 3–6)
(lanes: 1. Bonds; 2. Ali; 3. Harrison; 4. Russell; 5. Johnson; 6. Marshall; 7. Clemons; 8. Stark; 9. Armstrong)
HEATS (June 28)
I(1.7)–1. Marshall 12.41 PR; 2. Bonds 12.66; 3. Alexandra Webster (FlSt) 12.83; 4. Tia Jones (adiTBB) 12.90; 5. Danae Dyer (unat) 13.02; 6. Jaiya Covington (TxAM) 13.14; 7. Hailey Fune (LBSt) 13.37.
II(0.2)–1. Russell 12.35 PR (=6, x A);
2. Johnson 12.37; 3. Armstrong 12.74; 4. Leah Phillips (LSU) 13.23; 5. Sydni McMillan (ECar) 13.26; 6. Paige Magee (Ia) 13.41; 7. Natalie Block (WiM) 13.84.
III(0.1)–1. Clemons 12.56; 2. Rayniah Jones (UCF) 12.77; 3. Aasia Laurencin (Mi) 12.84; 4. Kaylah Robinson (TS) 13.08; 5. Gabbi Cunningham (Nike) 13.16; 6. Brandee Johnson (unat) 13.31; 7. Ali 20.38.
IV(0.2)–1. Harrison 12.49; 2. Stark 12.52; 3. Amber Hughes (unat) 12.73; 4. Destiny Huven (Ar) 12.77 PR; 5. Jalaysiya Smith (USC) 12.93; 6. Lolo Jones (unat) 14.86.
SEMIS (June 29)
I(0.8)–1. Clemons 12.52; 2. Harrison 12.52; 3. Ali 12.55; 4. Armstrong 12.67; 5. Hughes 12.85; 6. Robinson 13.07; 7. Covington 13.21; 8. Phillips 13.24; 9. Johnson 13.25.
II(1.0)–1. Johnson 12.36;
2. Marshall 12.36 PR (9, x A);
3. R. Jones 12.83; 4. Webster 12.84; 5. Smith 13.05; 6. McMillan 13.51; 7. Fune 13.58; 8. L. Jones 14.50;… dns—T. Jones.
III(0.5)–1. Russell 12.36 PR (=6, x A);
2. Stark 12.45 PR; 3. Bonds 12.77; 4. Huven 12.83; 5. Laurencin 13.03; 6. Dyer 13.08; 7. Cunningham 13.58; 8. Block 14.19; 9. Magee 15.57.
