Lolo Jones runs personal best in 100 hurdle semifinals

LSU release --

BEIJING – If there was ever any doubt that American Lolo Jones is the favorite to win gold in the 100-meter hurdles at this year’s Olympic Games, the former LSU great put those questions to rest Monday with her performance in the semifinal at the National Stadium.

After lining up in the first of two semifinal heats, Jones cruised to victory in 12.43 seconds to post the fastest time of the 16 semifinalists by nearly two tenths of a second.

The reigning U.S. champion and world leader improved her previous personal best of 12.45 that she set in the semifinal round at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore., back in June. Jones will line up in lane 4 in Tuesday’s final that is set to run at 9:30 a.m. CT.

“I don’t remember the start too much, but I got my rhythm in the middle of the race,” Jones said following her race. “Once I found my rhythm, everything clicked. That’s what I’m excited about. As soon as I leave the stadium, I’m going to forget it (this race) and focus on the final. Hopefully the Americans will have a great day when we line up tomorrow.”

While Jones is the favorite to win a gold medal in her Olympic debut, she must race against some stiff competition as Americans Damu Cherry (12.62) and Dawn Harper (12.66) finished 1-2 in the second semifinal heat. Harper will line up in lane 6 with Cherry set to race in lane 7.

With a win in the final, Jones would become just the second LSU track and field athlete to win an Olympic gold medal in an individual event. Tiger legend Glenn “Slats” Hardin is the only LSU athlete to accomplish the extraordinary feat as he won gold in the 400-meter hurdles 72 years ago at the infamous 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, Germany.

After Jones dominated the semifinal of the 100-meter hurdles, LSU junior Nickiesha Wilson lined up with an opportunity to advance to the final of the 400 hurdles in her first Olympic Games.

But the reigning NCAA champion from Jamaica saw her dreams of an Olympic medal come to an end as she finished in fifth place in the first of two semifinal heats after crossing the finish line in 54.67 seconds. Despite having the seventh-fastest time of the semifinal round, Wilson was unable to qualify for the eight-woman final that took the top four finishers in each heat.

In other action at the Bird’s Nest, two former Tigers ran in the same first-round qualifying heat in the men’s 400 meters but were unable to advance. Alleyne Francique of Grenada finished sixth in the heat with a time of 46.15, while Siraj Williams of Liberia was eighth with a time of 47.89.