Olympic Trials Women’s 100H — Trio Of First-Time Olympians

“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….