In a dramatic and brutal set of semi-final heats on Friday at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, Devynne Charlton of the Bahamas and Jamaica’s Ackera Nugent successfully advanced to the finals of the women’s 100m hurdles. However, the path to the final proved treacherous for many top contenders, as the 2022 world champion Tobi Amusan of Nigeria and Jamaica's two-time world champion Danielle Williams were among those who failed to qualify.
Charlton and Nugent were the Caribbean’s shining lights on a day filled with shocks and surprises. Charlton delivered a strong performance in the opening semi-final heat, finishing second behind the USA’s Grace Stark, who clocked an impressive 12.39. Charlton, the reigning 60m hurdles indoor champion, secured her spot in the final with a time of 12.50. Amusan, the world record holder, could only manage third place in 12.55, which was not fast enough to advance, marking a stunning exit for the Nigerian star.
Jamaica's Williams, who entered the competition with high hopes of adding an Olympic title to her two world championships, endured a disappointing run. Williams struggled throughout her race, clipping several hurdles, and ultimately finished sixth in her heat with a time of 12.82, falling well short of the final.
The second semi-final saw another tough outing for the Caribbean. Charisma Taylor of the Bahamas ran a lifetime best of 12.63 but could only finish third, just behind Nadine Visser of the Netherlands, who clocked 12.43 to take the second automatic qualifying spot. Alaysha Johnson of the USA dominated the heat, winning comfortably in 12.34. Despite Taylor’s personal best, it wasn’t enough to secure a place in the final.
Jamaica’s Janeek Brown, who had made a return to competitive hurdling after a two-year hiatus, struggled in her semi-final. Brown, the 2019 NCAA champion, finished seventh in 12.92, far from her personal best of 12.40 set five years ago, and her Olympic journey ended in disappointment.
The third and final heat was the fastest and most competitive, with reigning Olympic champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico laying down a marker with a smooth run to win in 12.35, the quickest time of the round. Masai Russell, the USA champion and world leader with a time of 12.25 earlier this season, finished second in 12.42, just ahead of Jamaica’s Ackera Nugent, who crossed the line in 12.44. Despite finishing third, Nugent’s time was fast enough to secure her a spot in the final, keeping Jamaican hopes alive.
European champion Cyrena Samba-Mayela of France also advanced from this heat, finishing fourth in 12.52, a time that edged out Amusan for the last spot in the final.
With Charlton and Nugent advancing, the stage is set for a thrilling final later on Friday. They will face off against a formidable trio of American hurdlers—Grace Stark, Alaysha Johnson, and Masai Russell—alongside Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, who looks determined to defend her Olympic title. The final promises to be a nail-biting clash, with both Caribbean athletes aiming to defy the odds and secure a place on the podium.
Leighton Levy is a journalist with 28 years’ experience covering crime, entertainment, and sports. He joined the staff at SportsMax.TV as a content editor two years ago and is enjoying the experience of developing sports content and new ideas. At SportsMax.tv he is pursuing his true passion - sports.
Puerto Rico’s Camacho-Quinn take 100m hurdles bronze in Paris; USA’s Russell takes gold ahead of France’s Samba-Mayela
Puerto Rico’s Jasmine Camacho-Quinn is now a two-time Olympic medallist after securing bronze in the final of the Women’s 100m hurdles at the Paris Olympics on Saturday.
The three medallists in Saturday’s final at the Stade de France were separated by just three hundredths of a second.
Camacho-Quinn, who won gold in Tokyo three years ago, took bronze this time around in 12.36, just behind France’s Cyrena Samba-Mayela (12.34) who took silver.
American Masai Russell, whose only other win this season came in the final at the US Trials, held her nerve to take gold in 12.33.
Bahamian World Indoor 60m hurdles champion and world record holder Devynne Charlton ran 12.56 in sixth while Jamaica’s Ackera Nugent failed to finish.
Russell beats French favourite Samba-Mayela to 100m hurdles gold
Cyrena Samba-Mayela delivered France's first track and field medal at the Paris Olympics on Saturday, but she had to settle for silver after losing narrowly to Masai Russell.
Team USA star Russell, who is competing at her first edition of the Games, came flying up on the inside to beat Samba-Mayela by one-hundredth of a second at the Stade de France.
Samba-Mayela collapsed in tears on the track after claiming France's first athletics medal on the penultimate night of their home games, with president Emmanuel Macron watching on.
Russell's victory came on the back of Grant Holloway's triumph in the men's 110m hurdles on Thursday, and represents Team USA's 12th track and field gold at these Games.
Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico took bronze, finishing just three-hundredths of a second behind Russell in a fiercely contested race, while the Netherlands' Nadine Visser missed out on a medal in fourth.
Jamaica's Sport Minister congratulates trio who belatedly received Olympic medals
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