RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil – Pedrya Seymour set a new Bahamian record to book her place in the finals of the Rio Olympics women’s 100m hurdles.
Seymour, who had to play catch up, did so perfectly to cross the line behind American danger woman and former world champion, Brianna Rollins – 12.47.
Her time, 12.64 seconds, bettered her previous national record of 12.83, done at this year’s NACAC Under-23 Championships in San Salvador.
In a post race interview with Caribbean media, after advancing from her first round heat, Seymour had mentioned that she would dedicate her Rio performance to “my brother who was murdered.”
From her reaction to her automatic qualification, this successful effort to make it to the last eight, would have pleased her.
Shermaine Williams, who matched the leaders stride for stride in the early stages, finished 5th in 12.86, a season best. The time was not fast enough to take her to the championship event.
Nickiesha Wilson, in semi-final 2, finished 7th in 13.14, slower than her first round run of 12.89.
American, Nia Ali, won the race in 12.65 ahead of Canadian, Phylicia George, 12.77.
Megan Simmonds, Jamaica’s last hope for a spot in the last eight, came up in semi-final 3. She was there with the leaders at the second hurdle, but after clipping the third, and almost every single one after, faded to 5th in 12.95.
USA’s Kristi Castlin topped the race in 12.63 ahead of Cindy Ofili of Great Britain, 12.71.
