Joanna Hayes overcame her fiercest challenge since her Olympic record dash in the 100 metre hurdles in Athens last month, winning her specialty here in a remarkably close and fast late-season race.
In a race nearly too close to call after seven hurdles, the 27-year-old Los Angeles native pulled away en route to a 12.58 win, exactly a tenth of a second ahead of compatriot Jenny Adams.
"It was the hardest race of the season," Hayes admitted. "My body has been aching lately and I haven't felt great. I didn't react to the gun and was way behind from the start. But I was determined, saying to myself, 'don't lose' this is the last race of the season."
The battle for third was brutal, with three women clocking 12.69. After several photo re-readings, Jamaican Lacena Golding Clarke, who carried a slight lead approaching he seventh hurdle, was given the edge, a personal best for the reigning Commonwealth champion and Olympic finalist. Spain's European champion Glory Alozie, a semi finalist in Athens, was given the nod for fourth, with Ukraine's Olena Krasovska, the Olympic silver medallist, fifth.
BR