American hurdler Keni Harrison reminded the world of her enduring class with a commanding win in the women’s 100m hurdles at the Adidas Atlanta City Games on Saturday.
The Tokyo Olympic silver medalist clocked an impressive 12.30 seconds, surging ahead of a stacked field in a race that showcased the depth of American sprint hurdling talent.
The victory came with a tailwind of 2.1 meters per second, just slightly over the allowable limit for record purposes. Despite that, it was a statement performance from the 31-year-old, whose wind-legal personal best of 12.20 seconds, set in 2016, once stood as both the world and American record.
Harrison led the charge ahead of compatriot Tia Jones, who had dominated the heats and equaled her preliminary round time of 12.36 seconds in the final, finishing second. The two produced one of the day’s most electric duels, reaffirming the 100m hurdles as one of the most competitive events in athletics.
Harrison celebrated Saturday’s triumph as a resurgence in his career of highs and near-misses. Since setting the world record in 2016, Harrison has faced intense competition from a new generation of hurdlers, including Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan, who shattered Harrison’s world record with a 12.12-second run in 2022.
Adding to the challenge, Harrison transitioned in 2022 to train under the legendary Bobby Kersee, joining a star-studded training group featuring Olympic champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone. However, the road has remained tough, highlighted by a bronze medal at the 2023 World Athletics Championships and a disappointing sixth-place finish at the U.S. Olympic Trials, which dashed her hopes for the Paris Games.
With rising stars like Masai Russell, the recent Summer Games champion, continuing to push the event’s standards, Harrison’s Atlanta win serves as both a personal victory and a reminder of her staying power in one of track and field’s fiercest disciplines.
As the season progresses, all eyes will remain on Harrison to see if she can build on this momentum and continue to contend with the sport’s new wave of talent.
