2019 Drake Relays Diary: World Record Holder Returns to Drake Stadium in 100-M Hurdles

Keni Harrison, how fast will she go in Des Moines next weekend? photo by PhotoRun.net

Keni Harrison is the World record holder in the 100m hurdles. That perfect race came on July 22, 2016 at the London Muller Anniversary Games, when Keni ran a scintilating 12.20, breaking the 1988 WR of Yordonka Donkova’s 12.21. There had been some confusion as Harrison had leant at the finishline and was not given the correct time in that race.

What can she do at the end of the April? We will just be waiting one more week!

World Record Holder Returns To Drake Stadium in 100-Meter Hurdles

DES MOINES, Iowa – Keni Harrison, the world record holder and a three-time defending Drake Relays presented by Hy-Vee Champion, is returning to Drake Stadium to defend her titles in the women’s 100-meter hurdles at the Drake Relays presented by Hy-Vee.

Harrison is part of a lineup that includes six Olympians including 2016 silver medalist Nia Ali.

Harrison, who owns the world record at 12.20, owns four of the top 10 times ever run by an American in the event and is aiming to become just the second four-time Relays champion in the 100-meter hurdles.

Ali is another Relays’ regular returning to the Blue Oval after finishing fourth in 2016 leading up to her silver medal at the 2016 Olympics and her personal best of 12.48 was set at Drake Stadium during the 2014 USA Championships.

Cindy Ofili of Great Britain, who was fourth in that same Olympic race also returns to the Relays looking for her first invitational win after winning collegiate 100-meter hurdle titles in 2015 and 2016 while competing for Michigan. Fellow member of the Commonwealth, Tobi Amusan, who is from Nigeria comes to the Relays after winning the Commonwealth Games title in the 100-meter hurdles last summer following a second-place showing at the Drake Relays.

The field also features a multi-sport Olympian in Canadian Phylicia George. The four-time Canadian national champion in the 100-meter hurldes and two-time Olympian who owns a personal best of 12.65. She also won an Olympic medal in the two-woman bobsled, having powered Canada to the bronze medal at the 2016 Winter Olympics.

A pair of national record holders are also in the field in Jasmine Camacho-Quinn and Pedyra Seymour. Seymour owns the Bahamian national record at 12.64 while Camacho-Quinn is the Puerto Rican record holder at 12.40 and was a two-time NCAA Champion in the event.

Devynne Charlton, who competed in the event as a collegian at Purdue last season, joins the field again looking to add another Relays title to her resume.

The women’s 100-meters hurdles is scheduled for Saturday, April 27, afternoon and is part of a thrilling half hour of hurdle races on the Blue Oval

Relays Week competitions begin Tuesday, April 23, with the Grand Blue Mile on the streets of downtown Des Moines. The heptathlon and decathlon get underway in Drake Stadium Wednesday, April 24, followed by the annual Capital Square Vault. Combined events conclude Thursday, April 25, at Drake Stadium followed by the annual Distance Carnival. Action continues all day Friday and Saturday at Drake Stadium.

All-session, multi-session and single-session tickets for all of the action are available via DrakeTix.com, 515-271-3647 or visiting the Drake Athletic Ticket Office.