The world indoor 60m hurdles champion, Michelle Freeman was the fastest qualifier in the first round of the women’s 100m hurdles. Looking extremely smooth over the barriers, Freeman broke the Jamaican national record with 12.53 in the first heat, the third fastest time this year.
The fastest hurdler in the world in 1997, Svetla Dimitrova of Bulgaria, also qualified, running a comfortable 12.68, as did the Olympic champion, Ludmila Engquist of Sweden, who ran 12.62.
Two notable names who did not make it to the semi-finals tomorrow were USA’s Melissa Morrison and Dawn Bowles. Morrison, with a best of 12.61, ranked 2nd on the 1997 world list before these championships; Bowles ranked 7th at 12.74. Both ran 13.11 in their respective heats.
