by Larry Eder
Christina Manning, Keni Harrison, Nadine Visser, the 60 meter hurdles, final, March 3, 2018, photo by PhotoRun.net
Keni Harrison is the World Record holder for the 100 meter hurdles. She has been followed by bad luck for a while now, not making Olympic teams, missing medals. Each time an interview came up, she would be asked about her tough luck. It had to be overpowering.
Yet, this weekend, Keni Harrison took her legacy into her own hands and ran strong rounds in the 60 meter hurdles. Her semi final made it clear that Keni Harrison was here for business.
In the final, Keni Harrison had one of her finest starts, and ran, hurdle for hurdle, with precision and focus. No one was going to stop Keni Harrison at the Arena Birmingham on Saturday, March 3, 2018, as she ran a championship record of 7.70! Her time is only two tenths of a second off the WR set by Susana Kallur of Sweden in 2005.
Keni Harrison now has her first global title, and she knows it. I told BBC last night that Keni Harrison is one of the finest hurdlers in the world. She had to believe that. Her coach, Edrick Floreal, posted the following tweet after Keni Harrison’s race. It is worth remembering!
“Anyone can give up, it’s the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that’s true strength.” Congrats @ken_aye_ 2018 World Indoor champion! #alwaysforwad #floknows pic.twitter.com/8xN99hWNO1
— Edrick Floreal OLY (@TrackKentucky) March 4, 2018
Keni Harrison, after the agony, now the ecstacy, photo by PhotoRun.net
Women’s 60m Hurdles Final Flash quotes
Kendra Harrison (USA) – Gold
“It feels amazing to finally get out there and get the job done. To finally get the gold I have been working so hard for.
“I came confident and had a good feeling. My coach told me to worry about my first three steps and that will set you up for the race.
“Emotionally I am at a loss of words. I have been dreaming about this moment.
“As soon as I pushed out of the blocks I felt great and I just kept going.”
Christina Manning (USA) – Silver
“I was so happy. I could tell I was in second place and thought, thank you god for this medal.
“The championship has been great, the support is electric. The fans do really come out here and support you.”
Nadine Visser (NED) – Bronze
“It was a surprise for me because last year I had good timings but this year it hasn’t been going that way.
“Yesterday in the heats I wasn’t that good but today I had the attention and it all came together.
“I was nervous but I’m even more surprised.
“I had to decide between the hepathlon and the hurdles and that was a decision I needed to make.“
