As Tiffany Porter picked herself off the track after a spectacular post-race fall, she might have been reflecting that she had missed possibly her best chance to become a world champion.
The 100 metres hurdles was there for the taking when Sally Pearson, the Olympic champion was injured, then when Jasmin Stowers and Queen Harrison failed to make the United States team for Beijing.
When Dawn Harper-Nelson fell in a semi-final and Kendra Harrison, another American, was disqualified for a false start, it seemed to be a race between Porter and Sharika Nelvis.
But things did not turn out that way. Nelvis, of the US, had a poor start and trailed in last, Porter ran well for the first seven hurdles but was overhauled at the final obstacle and then stumbled before the line, doing a complete somersault after crossing the line in fifth in 12.68.
“It was a tough fall, but I am OK,” said Porter, who won a bronze medal at the World Championships in Moscow three years ago. “I think I was in a good position, but I just didn’t really execute my last couple of hurdles and that’s what happens in terms of athletics.
Advertisement
“I’m just going to grow from this, you have to brush yourself off and do better next time and I will be back next year stronger.”
Danielle Williams, of Jamaica, was a surprise winner in 12.57 sec, beating Cindy Roleder, of Germany, with Alina Talay, of Belarus, in third.
Cindy Ofili, Porter’s younger sister, did not make it past the semi-finals, as she finished sixth in her race in 12.91.
Charlie Grice is through to tomorrow’s 1,500 metres final after finishing fourth in his semi-final in 3 min 35.58 sec. Chris O’Hare had an agonising exit in the other semi-final. With 50 metres to go, he was in third, with the first five qualifying automatically, but was overrun in the dying strides to finish seventh in 3:44.36.
Goldie Sayers failed to make it to the final of the javelin and her best throw of 58.28 metres was only good enough for 26th place overall.