W 100m HURDLES
MOST of the competitors at London were using this meeting to hone their preparations for Rio. Not Kendra Harrison, though, who broke the world record with a sensational 12.20 to better Yordanka Donkova’s 12.21 mark from 1988. Harrison won’t be in Rio after her sixth-placed finish in a loaded American trial, despite running 12.61 and having started as the firm favourite after setting a US record of 12.24 back in May.
Having been just 0.03 of a second short of Donkova’s mark in Eugene and with no Olympics to aim for, the 23-year-old set herself a new target. “Only the record will make up for missing out on Rio,” she said at the pre-race press conference.
Kendra Harrison: on her way to a stunning 12.20
Something special looked on the cards in the heats as Harrison effortlessly floated to 12.40 — her third-best time ever — and 85 minutes later she was drawn in lane six for the final.