Anderson to lead them home in 100m hurdles

Sprint hurdler Britany Anderson looks set to win her first national title in the 100 metres hurdles.

Anderson, who is only in her second year on the international circuit, has been blowing up a storm in the event this season and will start a big favourite for the event. The unfortunate Anderson was favoured for the title last year but after hitting several barriers had to settle for third. At the Tokyo Olympics, she went to the final but finished eighth after problems with the barriers.

The former World Under-17 champion has competed five times on the international circuit facing some of the world’s best in the event. She has won twice and placed second on three occasions in very close finishes with all her times under the 12.6 seconds barrier.

Anderson’s best performance came at the Rome Diamond League on June 9 when she went toe to toe with Olympic champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn and a stumble at the last hurdle denied her a chance of upstaging the Puerto Rican who won in a world-leading 12.37. Anderson was second in 12.50. The former Vere Technical High School star who has beaten training partner and defending World champion, American Nia Ali, twice over three days is definitely sending a big message that she is ready for something special this year. Once she negotiates the barriers without mishap at next week’s National Championships, she should score an easy win.

It will be close for the other two automatic spots for the Eugene World Championships. Crystal Morrison and Demisha Roswell, 2015 World Championships gold medallist Danielle Williams who failed to make the team to the Tokyo Olympics last year after a fourth place finish and defending champion and Tokyo bronze medallist Megan Tapper will all be in the mix.

Roswell is the fastest Jamaican in the event this season as competing at home at the NCAA Big 12 Championships for Texas Technical University, she blazed to an astonishing personal best 12.44 which is the third best in the world this year. Since then in three appearances, she has failed to come close with times of 12.78, 12.93 and 12.94 and will have to repeat her Big 12 form if she hopes to be among the top three.

It has been a below par season for Williams, with her best coming in April in South Carolina with a 12.61 while Tapper also seems to be struggling on the circuit with her best of 12.80 recorded on home soil earlier this month.

A few days ago, Morrison, a 20-year-old Legacy Track Club, threw her name in the hat for a top three finish when she clocked a personal best 12.69 while winning in Switzerland and could be rounding into form at the right time. She is the 2019 North American Central American and Caribbean under-18 champion

With Anderson set to pocket the top spot, any number can play for the other two places with Williams, Morrison and Tapper in a tight battle.

TOP 3: 1. Britany Anderson 2. Crystal Morrison 3. Danielle Williams