{"id":551,"date":"2011-08-13T06:35:00","date_gmt":"2011-08-13T13:35:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/?p=551"},"modified":"2011-08-13T06:35:00","modified_gmt":"2011-08-13T13:35:00","slug":"world-championships-preview-110100-hurdles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/?p=551","title":{"rendered":"World Championships Preview \u2013 110\/100 Hurdles"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The hurdles are always exciting and there should be no shortage of excitement in Daegu. Heading into the World Championships, we have two events that each have four athletes capable of taking to the podium \u2013 unfortunately only three get that privilege!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><\/h4>\n<h4><\/h4>\n<h4>Men\u2019s 110 Hurdles<\/h4>\n<table border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"2\" width=\"400\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"100\">&nbsp;<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"59\">&nbsp;<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"169\">&nbsp;<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"72\">&nbsp;<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"100\"><strong>World Record<\/strong><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"59\">12.87<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"169\">Dayron Robles<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"72\">CUB<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"100\"><strong>Meet Record<\/strong><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"59\">12.91<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"169\">Colin Jackson<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"72\">GBR<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"100\"><strong><font color=\"#ffffff\">2009 Gold<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"59\">13.14<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"169\">Ryan Brathwaite<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"72\">BAR<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3>&nbsp;<\/h3>\n<h3>2011 Best<\/h3>\n<table border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"2\" width=\"400\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"100\">&nbsp;<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"59\">12.94<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"169\">David Oliver<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"72\">USA<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"100\">&nbsp;<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"59\">13.00<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"169\">Liu Xiang<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"72\">CHN<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"100\">&nbsp;<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"59\">13.04<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"169\">Dayron Robles<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"72\">CUB<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"100\">&nbsp;<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"59\">13.08<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"169\">Jason Richardson<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"72\">USA<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"100\">&nbsp;<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"59\">13.12<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"169\">Aries Merritt<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"72\">USA<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"100\">&nbsp;<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"59\">13.15<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"169\">Dwight Thomas<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"72\">JAM<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>This is one of those rare moments when a party is held and all the main guests arrive!. The yearly list is lead by the top three men in history. Atop the list sits last year\u2019s #1 hurdler, David Oliver \u2013 the only man to run sub 13 this year. Oliver has found the going a bit tougher this year however. Undefeated last year, he suffered his first loss in May to former WR holder Liu Xiang. He returned the favor with his sub13 run at Pre, won the U.S. Trials then went to Europe where he lost three races in a row \u2013 twice to WR holder Dayron Robles, and once to up and coming Jason Richardson. Oliver hasn\u2019t lost three in a row since 2007 \u2013 but that is the record he takes into Daegu.<\/p>\n<p>Second on the yearly list, Liu Xiang (CHN) is no stranger to top level hurdling. The former WR holder (still #2 all time) was the \u201804 Olympic champion and \u201807 World Champion. Injury kept him out of Beijing and Berlin, and we didn\u2019t see a healthy Liu until the fall of 2010, where he ran an encouraging 13.09. He\u2019s only raced three times this year, two of them against Oliver where he is 1-1. But make no mistake, he is the savviest hurdler on the track, smooth, and very competitive. He only takes to the track when he is absolutely ready to compete \u2013 and healthy he has proven to be extremely difficult to beat. <\/p>\n<p>Also coming back from injury this year is WR holder Dayron Robles (CUB). The Beijing Olympic champion, was also fourth in Osaka, but like Liu was hampered by injury in 2009. He competed during the first half of the 2010 season but withdrew in July due to aggravated injury. He\u2019s come back this year to very quietly put together a 9-1 season, heading into Daegu with wins over everyone except Liu who he has yet to race in 2011. Daegu will be their first head to head since 2007 \u2013 a win for Robles in Shanghai after losing the World title to Liu in Osaka! <\/p>\n<p>This was supposed to be a three man race for the gold medal among the three fastest hurdlers of all time. However, on July 29th that began to change as Jason Richardson (USA) began to tap into his potential with a big win over David Oliver in Stockholm. He proved that it was no fluke defeating Oliver again in London while running a very close second to Robles. Suddenly there is a potential usurper in the room as Richardson takes aim at crashing the Big Three\u2019s party!<\/p>\n<p>These are the men that should be battling it out for the top of the podium \u2013 and a very interesting race it should be. Oliver is power personified, and with a good start is able to put pressure on his foes, and move away mid race. In a normal race this would easily be his race to lose. HOWEVER, this is not a normal race, it is a race with the three best in history \u2013 and all apparently are healthy. That means in addition to Oliver\u2019s power, we get Robles\u2019 silky smoothness \u2013 perhaps the \u201cprettiest\u201d hurdling form since Renaldo Nehemiah. Robles will flow over the hurdles, which should all remain standing when he crosses the line \u2013 he will beat you with technique. The man who never looks like he should win, but nearly always does is Liu. Where Oliver is powerful and Robles smooth, Liu doesn\u2019t make mistakes and may be the toughest competitor on the track. He simply stays close, doesn\u2019t panic and finds a way to get to the line first \u2013 almost like the finish line is metal and he is a magnet! The party crasher, Richardson, is most like Robles \u2013 smooth. A point well shown as he literally mirrored the WR holder nearly stride for stride in London. <\/p>\n<p>Who wins? This one will be decided by at the gun. Getting out quickly and to the first hurdle is a MUST. Because anyone not in the race at hurdle two doesn\u2019t medal. And past hurdle three, mistakes will be deadly. This field is that fast and that close! In a race among the best of all time mistakes become magnified, which is why I think this race goes to the man who just refuses to lose when he\u2019s healthy:<\/p>\n<table border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"2\" width=\"402\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"87\">Gold<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"179\">Liu Xiang<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"59\">CHN<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"75\">12.90<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"87\">Silver<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"179\">Dayron Robles<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"59\">CUB<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"75\">12.94<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"87\">Bronze<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"179\">Jason Richardson<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"59\">USA<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"75\">12.98<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"87\">Just Missed<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"179\">David Oliver<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"59\">USA<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"75\">13.00<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lh3.ggpht.com\/-J5_yTGvXe44\/TkaLwWFTjzI\/AAAAAAAAAVU\/wMEhmmpxP-A\/s1600-h\/image13.png\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px\" title=\"image\" border=\"0\" alt=\"image\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lh3.ggpht.com\/-08ExKpA573o\/TkaLwwqdDQI\/AAAAAAAAAVY\/kjBk0fmUssI\/image_thumb3.png?resize=244%2C164\" width=\"244\" height=\"164\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4>Women\u2019s 100 Hurdles<\/h4>\n<table border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"2\" width=\"400\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"100\">&nbsp;<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"59\">&nbsp;<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"169\">&nbsp;<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"72\">&nbsp;<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"100\"><strong>World Record<\/strong><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"59\">12.21<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"169\">Yordanka Donkova<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"72\">BUL<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"100\"><strong>Meet Record<\/strong><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"59\">12.34<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"169\">Ginka Zagorcheva<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"72\">BUL<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"100\"><strong><font color=\"#ffffff\">2009 Gold<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"59\">12.51<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"169\">Brigitte Foster Hylton<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"72\">JAM<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3>&nbsp;<\/h3>\n<h3>2011 Best<\/h3>\n<table border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"2\" width=\"400\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"100\">&nbsp;<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"59\">12.48 <\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"169\">Sally Pearson<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"72\">AUS<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"100\">&nbsp;<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"59\">12.50<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"169\">Kellie Wells<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"72\">USA<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"100\">&nbsp;<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"59\">12.52 <\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"169\">Danielle Carruthers<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"72\">USA<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"100\">&nbsp;<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"59\">12.58<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"169\">Dawn Harper<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"72\">USA<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"100\">&nbsp;<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"59\">12.60<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"169\">Tiffany Porter<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"72\">GBR<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"100\">&nbsp;<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"59\">12.62<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"169\">Lisa Urech<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"72\">SUI<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>This has been a weird season for this event. Priscilla Lopes Sliep out on maternity leave. Defending champion, Brigitte Foster Hylton sub par, and that\u2019s being kind, at 12.99 on the season. Lolo Jones sub par early, and finally succumbing to surgery just days ago. Leaving the event wide open at the mid season point. <\/p>\n<p>Kellie Wells was the first to step up, running to a win in Doha in 12.58, then reeling off a string of 2nd place finishes in Daegu, Rome, Hengelo and New York, before taking the U.S. title. Europe was tougher, however, with a 6th in Lausanne, and a 4th in Birmingham, before winning again in Lignano and taking 2nd in Monaco.<\/p>\n<p>Teammate Danielle Carruthers has been a bit more successful, following up her 3nd place at Nationals with 2nd place runs in Lausanne, Birmingham and London, to go with a 4th in Monaco. Meanwhile 3rd American, Dawn Harper, has had only one race since her 3rd at Nationals \u2013 a 5th place in Monaco. Harper, however, is the reigning Olympic champion and has shown the ability in the past to be ready when she needs to be.<\/p>\n<p>Which brings me to the quiet star of the season, Australian Sally Pearson. Pearson spent the Australian season (Jan \u2013 Apr) honing her speed running the sprints \u2013 where she was undefeated; became national champion at both 100 &amp; 200; and had season\u2019s bests of 11.20\/23.05. She also set a PR of 53.86 in her only run over 400 meters \u2013 a race she also won. On the last day of March she took to her pet event, the 100 hurdles, opening at 12.85. She also contested that at her national championships and won giving her titles over 100\/200\/100H. Since then she has focused on the hurdles winning in Lausanne, Birmingham, Monaco and London. She\u2019s undefeated, has twice run under 12.50, and is quietly the hottest athlete on the track in 2011. <\/p>\n<p>Finally, there is Derval O\u2019Rourke (IRE) who is also a returning Berlin, as she finished 4th. But like Foster Hylton, she is having anything but a stellar season as she has only managed to run 12.84 on the season and has no top finishes in major competitions this year.<\/p>\n<p>So where does all this leave us? The foursome of Pearson, Harper, Wells and Carruthers simply dominate this event based on placings in the big races, and they own the bulk of the yearly list \u2013 they own 20 of the 25 top clockings on the season! That said, Pearson is undefeated and owns five of the top ten times this year.&nbsp; They are close on the clock and this is the hurdles \u2013 meaning mistakes cost dearly. Like the men this one should be decided early \u2013 probably by hurdle three. All four ladies are quite talented, but I have to go with the hot hand going into the meet: <\/p>\n<table border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"2\" width=\"402\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"87\">Gold<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"179\">Sally Pearson <\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"59\">AUS<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"75\">12.40<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"87\">Silver<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"179\">Danielle Carruthers<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"59\">USA<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"75\">12.44<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"87\">Bronze<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"179\">Dawn Harper<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"59\">USA<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"75\">12.49<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"87\">Just Missed<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"179\">Kellie Wells<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"59\">USA<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"75\">12.58<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lh6.ggpht.com\/-a7ddSEeKSjk\/TkaLxWvy6TI\/AAAAAAAAAVc\/FyveUhNUk4w\/s1600-h\/image9.png\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px\" title=\"image\" border=\"0\" alt=\"image\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lh3.ggpht.com\/-PH6Ko2HkPAA\/TkaLxz6dhnI\/AAAAAAAAAVg\/zCbcIFmaz54\/image_thumb2.png?resize=244%2C172\" width=\"244\" height=\"172\"><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The hurdles are always exciting and there should be no shortage of excitement in Daegu. Heading into the World Championships, we have two events that each have four athletes capable of taking to the podium \u2013 unfortunately only three get that privilege! &nbsp; Men\u2019s 110 Hurdles &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; World Record 12.87 Dayron Robles CUB Meet Record 12.91 Colin Jackson GBR 2009 Gold 13.14 Ryan Brathwaite BAR &nbsp; 2011 Best &nbsp; 12.94 David Oliver USA &nbsp; 13.00 Liu Xiang CHN &nbsp; 13.04 Dayron Robles CUB &nbsp; 13.08 Jason Richardson USA &nbsp; 13.12 Aries Merritt USA &nbsp; 13.15 Dwight Thomas JAM This is one of those rare moments when a party is held and all the main guests arrive!. The yearly list is lead by the top three men in history. Atop the list sits last year\u2019s #1 hurdler, David Oliver \u2013 the only man to run sub 13 this year. Oliver has found the going a bit tougher this year however. Undefeated last year, he suffered his first loss in May to former WR holder Liu Xiang. He returned the favor with his sub13 run at Pre, won the U.S. Trials then went to Europe where he lost three races in a row \u2013 twice to WR holder Dayron Robles, and once to up and coming Jason Richardson. Oliver hasn\u2019t lost three in a row since 2007 \u2013 but that is the record he takes into Daegu. Second on the yearly list, Liu Xiang (CHN) is no stranger to top level hurdling. The former WR holder (still #2 all time) was the \u201804 Olympic champion and \u201807 World Champion. Injury kept him out of Beijing and Berlin, and we didn\u2019t see a healthy Liu until the fall of 2010, where he ran an encouraging 13.09. He\u2019s only raced three times this year, two of them against Oliver where he is 1-1. But make no mistake, he is the savviest hurdler on the track, smooth, and very competitive. He only takes to the track when he is absolutely ready to compete \u2013 and healthy he has proven to be extremely difficult to beat. Also coming back from injury this year is WR holder Dayron Robles (CUB). The Beijing Olympic champion, was also fourth in Osaka, but like Liu was hampered by injury in 2009. He competed during the first half of the 2010 season but withdrew in July due to aggravated injury. He\u2019s come back this year to very quietly put together a 9-1 season, heading into Daegu with wins over everyone except Liu who he has yet to race in 2011. Daegu will be their first head to head since 2007 \u2013 a win for Robles in Shanghai after losing the World title to Liu in Osaka! This was supposed to be a three man race for the gold medal among the three fastest hurdlers of all time. However, on July 29th that began to change as Jason Richardson (USA) began to tap into his potential with a big win over David Oliver in Stockholm. He proved that it was no fluke defeating Oliver again in London while running a very close second to Robles. Suddenly there is a potential usurper in the room as Richardson takes aim at crashing the Big Three\u2019s party! These are the men that should be battling it out for the top of the podium \u2013 and a very interesting race it should be. Oliver is power personified, and with a good start is able to put pressure on his foes, and move away mid race. In a normal race this would easily be his race to lose. HOWEVER, this is not a normal race, it is a race with the three best in history \u2013 and all apparently are healthy. That means in addition to Oliver\u2019s power, we get Robles\u2019 silky smoothness \u2013 perhaps the \u201cprettiest\u201d hurdling form since Renaldo Nehemiah. Robles will flow over the hurdles, which should all remain standing when he crosses the line \u2013 he will beat you with technique. The man who never looks like he should win, but nearly always does is Liu. Where Oliver is powerful and Robles smooth, Liu doesn\u2019t make mistakes and may be the toughest competitor on the track. He simply stays close, doesn\u2019t panic and finds a way to get to the line first \u2013 almost like the finish line is metal and he is a magnet! The party crasher, Richardson, is most like Robles \u2013 smooth. A point well shown as he literally mirrored the WR holder nearly stride for stride in London. Who wins? This one will be decided by at the gun. Getting out quickly and to the first hurdle is a MUST. Because anyone not in the race at hurdle two doesn\u2019t medal. And past hurdle three, mistakes will be deadly. This field is that fast and that close! In a race among the best of all time mistakes become magnified, which is why I think this race goes to the man who just refuses to lose when he\u2019s healthy: Gold Liu Xiang CHN 12.90 Silver Dayron Robles CUB 12.94 Bronze Jason Richardson USA 12.98 Just Missed David Oliver USA 13.00 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Women\u2019s 100 Hurdles &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; World Record 12.21 Yordanka Donkova BUL Meet Record 12.34 Ginka Zagorcheva BUL 2009 Gold 12.51 Brigitte Foster Hylton JAM &nbsp; 2011 Best &nbsp; 12.48 Sally Pearson AUS &nbsp; 12.50 Kellie Wells USA &nbsp; 12.52 Danielle Carruthers USA &nbsp; 12.58 Dawn Harper USA &nbsp; 12.60 Tiffany Porter GBR &nbsp; 12.62 Lisa Urech SUI This has been a weird season for this event. Priscilla Lopes Sliep out on maternity leave. Defending champion, Brigitte Foster Hylton sub par, and that\u2019s being kind, at 12.99 on the season. Lolo Jones sub par early, and finally succumbing to surgery just days ago. Leaving the event wide open at the mid season point. Kellie Wells was the first to step up, running to a win in Doha in 12.58, then reeling off a string of 2nd place finishes in Daegu, Rome, Hengelo and New York, before taking the U.S. title. Europe was tougher, however, with a 6th in Lausanne, and a 4th in Birmingham, before winning again in Lignano and taking 2nd in Monaco. Teammate Danielle Carruthers has been a bit more successful, following up her 3nd place at Nationals with 2nd place runs in Lausanne, Birmingham and London, to go with a 4th in Monaco. Meanwhile 3rd American, Dawn Harper, has had only one race since her 3rd at Nationals \u2013 a 5th place in Monaco. Harper, however, is the reigning Olympic champion and has shown the ability in the past to be ready when she needs to be. Which brings me to the quiet star of the season, Australian Sally Pearson. Pearson spent the Australian season (Jan \u2013 Apr) honing her speed running the sprints \u2013 where she was undefeated; became national champion at both 100 &amp; 200; and had season\u2019s bests of 11.20\/23.05. She also set a PR of 53.86 in her only run over 400 meters \u2013 a race she also won. On the last day of March she took to her pet event, the 100 hurdles, opening at 12.85. She also contested that at her national championships and won giving her titles over 100\/200\/100H. Since then she has focused on the hurdles winning in Lausanne, Birmingham, Monaco and London. She\u2019s undefeated, has twice run under 12.50, and is quietly the hottest athlete on the track in 2011. Finally, there is Derval O\u2019Rourke (IRE) who is also a returning Berlin, as she finished 4th. But like Foster Hylton, she is having anything but a stellar season as she has only managed to run 12.84 on the season and has no top finishes in major competitions this year. So where does all this leave us? The foursome of Pearson, Harper, Wells and Carruthers simply dominate this event based on placings in the big races, and they own the bulk of the yearly list \u2013 they own 20 of the 25 top clockings on the season! That said, Pearson is undefeated and owns five of the top ten times this year.&nbsp; They are close on the clock and this is the hurdles \u2013 meaning mistakes cost dearly. Like the men this one should be decided early \u2013 probably by hurdle three. All four ladies are quite talented, but I have to go with the hot hand going into the meet: Gold Sally Pearson AUS 12.40 Silver Danielle Carruthers USA 12.44 Bronze Dawn Harper USA 12.49 Just Missed Kellie Wells USA 12.58 &nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-551","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pa3DCY-8T","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":222,"url":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/?p=222","url_meta":{"origin":551,"position":0},"title":"World Championships &#8211; Day Four and Five","author":"CHill","date":"August 19, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"Pretty quiet the past couple of days. The big highlight was Sanya Richards finally getting the \"monkey off her back\" by winning her first global gold medal after being ranked #1 in the event for the past 5 years. A beautiful race, she finally ran \"her\" race and beat the\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"Track and Field: 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cdn.picapp.com\/ftp\/Images\/c\/1\/9\/a\/Track_and_Field_3bf0.JPG?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":347,"url":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/?p=347","url_meta":{"origin":551,"position":1},"title":"US Nationals \u2013 Keep an Eye on the Collegians","author":"CHill","date":"June 21, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"Without a World Championships or Olympic Games berth on the line, this year\u2019s national championships could see a number of individuals choose to focus on things like making money, letting nagging injuries heal, or simply train through nationals while focusing on meets later in the season. If so we could\u2026","rel":"","context":"With 4 comments","block_context":{"text":"With 4 comments","link":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/?p=347#comments"},"img":{"alt_text":"Jun 12, 2010; Eugene, OR, USA; Queen Harrison of Virginia Tech defeats Ti'erra Brown of Miami to win the women's 100m hurdles, 12.67 to 12.84, in the 2010 NCAA Track & Field Championships at Hayward Field.Photo by Image of Sport Photo via Newscom","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/view1.picapp.com\/pictures.photo\/image\/9097513\/track-and-field-ncaa\/track-and-field-ncaa.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1033,"url":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/?p=1033","url_meta":{"origin":551,"position":2},"title":"A Crowd is Starting to Form in the Hurdles","author":"CHill","date":"April 9, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"It\u2019s early in the season, and few of the top athletes have made it to the track yet, but the 110 hurdlers are doing what they do \u2013 compete! I love the hurdlers. For starters it\u2019s one of the most exciting events on the track. There\u2019s speed. The technique of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"110 Hurdles\"","block_context":{"text":"110 Hurdles","link":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/?tag=110-hurdles"},"img":{"alt_text":"Hurdle Trio","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/trackchill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/Hurdle-Trio_thumb.png?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":517,"url":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/?p=517","url_meta":{"origin":551,"position":3},"title":"Nationals Recap &#8211; Hurdles","author":"CHill","date":"June 29, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Before I start my recap of the hurdle events, let me say that the U.S. sprint hopes got a potential boost with the announcement yesterday that Lashawn Merritt will be allowed to use his bye to the World Championships. This move was sorely needed in my opinion, both to show\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"http:\/\/t2.gstatic.com\/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT9HxHsi28X1HiLnq_X_1D6bBa4fhH_4VchQ5jId43IQHtYZRO5Jg","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":593,"url":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/?p=593","url_meta":{"origin":551,"position":4},"title":"My 2011 #1\u2019s Rankers by Event","author":"CHill","date":"October 10, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Time to start wrapping up the season. The Pan American Games are still on tap for the end of the month, but I don\u2019t see them changing anything here \u2013 or with most of the post season awards yet to be distributed. So I will start with event #1\u2019s, move\u2026","rel":"","context":"With 2 comments","block_context":{"text":"With 2 comments","link":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/?p=593#comments"},"img":{"alt_text":"image","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lh5.ggpht.com\/-nlfPbKjmChI\/TpOMUaQojSI\/AAAAAAAAAiI\/u4jfwfxb0pw\/image_thumb.png?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":286,"url":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/?p=286","url_meta":{"origin":551,"position":5},"title":"World Indoors Preview &#8211; Men&#8217;s 60 Hurdles","author":"CHill","date":"March 9, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"The indoor season will end this weekend with the World Indoor Championships in Doha, Qatar. While the season itself has been somewhat unspectacular, the grand finale should be quite exciting as there are several high quality match ups. Perhaps the hottest match up of the weekend could be the men's\u2026","rel":"","context":"With 2 comments","block_context":{"text":"With 2 comments","link":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/?p=286#comments"},"img":{"alt_text":"AVIVA Grand Prix","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cdn.picapp.com\/ftp\/Images\/0\/b\/3\/4\/AVIVA_Grand_Prix_1a07.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/551","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=551"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/551\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=551"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=551"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=551"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}