PREVIEW - Women's 100m Hurdles

A new face has emerged as the favourite in the women’s 100m Hurdles. The rise of Michelle Perry is a surprise, because only a year ago, she competed in heptathlon at the Olympics.

Perry clocked a time of 12.65 in late May at Stanford. This was an impressive result, but it was only the start of an amazing string of races. A month later, at the US championships in Carson, Perry clocked 12.52 in the heats, 12.43 in the semis and 12.66 in the final into a strong headwind. Perry won the national title, leaving Joanne Hayes to second place.

In the Olympic Heptathlon, Perry finished in 14th place in Athens. This year, concentrating on the Hurdles, her form has been impressive. She has run nine times under her PB from last year, 12.74s. She has also performed well in Europe, winning important meets at Lausanne and at Rethymno.

One woman who can pose a serious threat to Perry is the defending World champion, Perdita Felicien of Canada. In early June, Felicien ran 12.58 at Eugene, but later on European soil her races were ruined by mistakes. The worst example was the Grand Prix at Lausanne, where she tripped and fell over at the last hurdle. In late July, Felicien showed that her form was improving again with a win at the Stockholm Grand Prix with 12.77s.

The experienced Joanna Hayes of the United States is also expected to appear on the podium at the World Championships. Hayes is the Olympic gold medallist from Athens. At the US championships, she was 0.11 seconds slower than Perry, but earlier in New York, the gap was only 0.02 seconds. Hayes won the Golden League meet at Paris with 12.60, beating Felicien.

Kirsten Bolm of Germany was the surprise winner at the London Grand Prix. She shaved 0.21 seconds off her PB by clocking 12.59. Now 30 years of age Bolm has not yet had success in the major championship, and even in Helsinki, she is regarded as an outside chance to win a medal.

The experienced Brigitte Foster-Hylton of Jamaica will try to defend her Paris silver medal in Helsinki. Her best time this season is 12.60 at the Jamaican championships in July, but she has had some good races elsewhere as well. In London she was third.

Another seasoned hurdler from Jamaica is Delloreen Ennis-London. Foster-Hylton is 31, Ennis-London a year younger. Her best placing in major championships is her fourth place at the Sydney Olympics in 2000. She is a candidate for the final eight in Helsinki, as she has run 12.60 twice this season. 

Susanna Kallur of Sweden took the European Indoor championship title at 60m Hurdles and she ran her PB 12.65 over 100m Hurdles at Hengelo in May. Kallur is known as a tough competitor.

Linda Ferga-Khodaddin should be counted among the challengers . She won the French national championship with 12.66, and she has been a finalist at the Sydney Olympics and the World Championships of 2001. Olena Krasovska of Ukraine and Aurelia Trywianska of Poland could offer a surprise.

Helsinki 2005 media team