Olympic bronze medalist Megan Tapper might have been smiling on the outside, but her inner dissatisfaction was evident after her third-place finish in the 100m hurdles at the Racers Grand Prix held at the National Stadium in Kingston on Saturday night. Tapper, who made history at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics by becoming the first Jamaican female sprint hurdler to win an Olympic medal in the event, expressed her frustration with what she considered a "mediocre" performance.
Clocking a time of 12.80 seconds, Tapper finished behind American athlete Tia Jones, who secured second place with a time of 12.72 seconds, and the world champion and world-record holder Tobi Amusan, who claimed victory with a season-best time of 12.57 seconds. Despite the podium finish, Tapper was far from pleased with her own performance.
The diminutive sprint hurdler, known for her tenacity and determination, revealed that she has been facing various physical challenges that for the first time manifested themselves in a race, further hindering her performance.
In an interview following the race, Tapper shared her disappointment, saying, "I was ready to run, ready to compete, do my best, and run the fastest time I've ever achieved before the national trials at home in front of the Jamaicans, who show me so much love, but it just wasn't in the cards for me unfortunately."
Nevertheless, Tapper maintained a positive outlook and expressed relief that the subpar performance occurred at the Racers Grand Prix rather than during the upcoming National Trials. She acknowledged the significance of running in front of her fellow Jamaicans and saw the race as a learning opportunity and a chance for growth.
Tapper's time of 12.80 seconds, which she considered mediocre, has not dampened her determination. Looking ahead to the national championships in the next four weeks, she remains optimistic and hopeful for a better outcome. She remarked, "12.80 in a mediocre performance for me, but it gives me hope, and I'll continue to look forward with great expectations as I prepare for the national championships."
The hurdles specialist also opened up about the challenges she has been facing, stating, "It's really hard to come to terms with the idea that a lot of things that worked for you, that you literally can attribute to your past success, are roadblocks or hindrances now." Despite these ongoing obstacles, Tapper emphasized her resilience and growth, highlighting that she is handling the challenges better than she would have in the past.
As Megan Tapper continues her preparations for the national championships, her unwavering determination and ability to overcome obstacles will undoubtedly fuel her pursuit of success on the track. Jamaican fans eagerly await her next performance, ready to support and cheer on their history-making athlete as she strives to reach new heights in her career.