Shelly-Ann Update, Jackson Out of 200, Crittenden 18.27 110 Hurdle, 2 of 3 Americans Cruise in Steeple – Day 3 Paris AM Track Recap
By LetsRun.com
PARIS – While most of America was sleeping, the track and field action continued in the Stade de France on Sunday morning and was highlighted by the women’s steeplechase, 200m and 400m hurdle qualifying.
The biggest news of note is that reigning world champion Shericka Jackson did not start the 200m (she had also withdrawn from the 100 prior to the start of the Olympics). One woman who was on the starting line 14 hours after her 100m victory was St. Lucia’s Julien Alfred. Alfred did not stop to talk to the media after her 200 prelim but did reveal to us that she slept just two hours last night. Makes sense since she’s an early riser and her press conference last night didn’t end until around midnight.
The other big news coming in overnight was an explanation for Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s withdrawal from the 100m semifinals. It was because of injury and had nothing to do with a brief hiccup entering the stadium that affected Sha’Carri Richardson as well, where Richardson and Fraser-Pryce were denied entry at the entrance they had used the day previously.
Jamaica chef de mission Ian Kelly told the BBC, “Mrs Fraser-Pryce was allowed to enter the warm-up track but from another gate from which she was directed to enter from. There is no truth that she was not allowed to enter the stadium. Unfortunately she was not able to compete due to an injury sustained during her final warm-up.”
SAFP issued a statement on social media that among other things said, “It is difficult for me to find the words to describe the depth of my disappointment.” She did not specify the nature of her injury.
Women’s steeple prelims: Chepkoech cruises and Chemutai makes it look easy as 2 of 3 Americans advance
The first two women’s steeple prelims were as dramatic as prelims get as both races featured six women kicking for five automatic qualifying spots off the final barrier. With no time qualifiers to the final, it was do or die.
In the first heat, it looked like two-time Worlds medalist Gesa Krause of Germany would be the odd woman out as she was in 6th off the final barrier and stumbled badly after clearing it. But she rallied and moved up to 3rd by the finish, one spot ahead of American Courtney Wayment, who looked composed while kicking. Reigning Olympic champion Peruth Chemutai of Uganda won the heat in 9:10.51, and though the top six were only separated by .40, she looked very comfortable and was never in any danger of missing out. While the others were battling for the auto spots, Chemutai spent most of the home stretch looking over her shoulder checking whether she needed to hit the gas.
Tunisia’s Marwa Bouzayani was the odd woman out, finishing 6th in 9:10.91 to miss qualifying by .18.
That was actually a large gap compared to heat 2, where 4th through 6th were separated by just .01. Reigning world champ Winfed Yavi won the race in 9:15.11 with US champ Val Constien also advancing in 3rd in 9:16.33. The fierce battle for the last two spots came down to Brit Lizzie Bird (9:16.46), 2022 world champ Norah Jeruto (9:16.46), and Germany’s Olivia Guerth (9:16.47). Jeruto let up at the line and almost cost herself a qualifying spot, but wound up advancing as Guerth missed out.
There was no such drama in heat 3 as world record holder Beatrice Chepkoech bossed it in 9:13.56 and the top five were well clear of the field by the finish. American Marisa Howard was not one of them, however, as she lost contact with the leaders with just under two laps to go and finished 7th in 9:24.78, seven seconds out of a qualifying spot.
Quick take: Despite having 3rd-fastest time in field, Val Constien dealing with ‘Impostor Syndrome’
Val Constien turned a lot of heads by blasting her 9:03.22 to win the US Olympic Trials, a time that made her the 3rd fastest woman of 2024.
Constien had to outkick one person of six, the final 100m to qualify for the final, which she did, but she admitted to having nerves and doubt about her heat in general and the final 100m. Beforehand she noticed how many sub 9:10 women were in the heat (7 women had PBs under 9:10, but only 4 had done it this year).
As for the final 100, Constien, said she was trying to do what she wants to do in the final and that is “stay relaxed” but “maybe I was a little too nervous because coming off that last hurdle, I actually did a little Olivia Markezich wiggle and I was like ‘oh no hopefully I don’t fall’ but luckly it was fine but I had to push pretty hard in the end.”
“There’s always a little bit of imposter syndrome. Especially because I was never the top person in the NCAA. And I had some pretty unfortunate years, the past few years. So there’s definitely some impostor syndrome, but it’s the Olympics, anything can happen.”
Quick Take: Unsurprisingly, Chemutai and Chepkoech looked the best of anyone today
Chemutai and Chepkoech came in ranked #1 and #2 in the world this year, with both women having run 8:55 and no one else under 9:03. So it was perhaps not a shock that those two looked the most comfortable of anyone in the heats this morning.
Women’s 200 prelims: Thomas leads all qualifiers as Jackson withdraws
The biggest news in the 200 was who did not compete, with two-time defending world champ Shericka Jackson and Marie-Josee Ta Lou-Smith, who pulled up midway through last night’s 100m final, both scratching. There were no surprises among those who did compete, as Gabby Thomas (22.20) won her heat in the fastest time of the day. Julien Alfred (22.41 in heat 1) and Americans Brittany Brown (22.38 in heat 5) and McKenzie Long (22.55 in heat 4) also won their heats.
Quick Take: This is shaping up as a Thomas v Alfred battle for gold
With no Jackson, who clearly has not been herself this year and pulled up hurt in her last pre-Olympic meet, it’s hard to see anyone other than Thomas or Alfred winning the gold.
Men’s 110 hurdles: Grant Holloway Runs 13.01, Freddie Crittenden Runs 18 Seconds
Freddie Crittenden was a big surprise in round 1 of the hurdles as he started very slow and jumped every hurdle but at a crawl and finished in 18.27. Afterwards, he revealed that he has been dealing with some discomfort, so it was a strategic decision to save himself for the repechage round on Tuesday. Then he will run all-out, giving his body two extra days to recover.
“I had a little bit of an aggregation in my abductor yesterday for my pre-meet,” Crittendend said. “I went to Team USA medical staff and they said it’s not an injury, there’s a lack of activation in my muscle and that’s causing pain and discomfort.”
Crittenden said that he would have been willing to try to run all-out today and “crash and burn” had there not been a repechage round. But with the repechage as an option, Crittenden said he went as quicky as his body would allow him.
“I gave it my very best effort for the position I was in,” Crittenden said. “I think had I gone more, I would have really injured myself.”
One guy who did not hold back was Grant Holloway, who ran 13.01 in his prelim, more than .20 faster than anyone else on the day. The most dramatic heat was heat 3, which saw the top five spots separated by just .03 of a second, with only the top three advancing automatically. American Daniel Roberts (3rd in 13.43) grabbed the final auto spot by thousandths, while defending Olympic champion Hansle Parchment was 5th, also in 13.43. But Parchment will not be in the repechage round as there were also three time qualifiers and he was able to grab one of them.
AM Discussion:
