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Keni Harrison Breaks 28-Year-Old World Hurdles Record At Anniversary Games

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Saturday, July 23rd, 2016
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Harrison, 23, was already the fastest woman in the world this year, but will not be at next month’s Olympics after finishing only sixth in the US trials.

The previous world record of 12.21 had stood since 1988 and was held by Yordanka Donkova of Bulgaria.

Britain’s Tiffany Porter came sixth and Jessica Ennis-Hill last.

“After not making the Olympic team I wanted to come out here and show what I could have done,” an emotional Harrison told BBC Sport.

“The US team is the hardest to make, our country wants the top three from the trials and I was not that person. The pressure got to me on the day. I wish I could re-do that day.

“I came out here with a lot of vengeance. I knew I had it in me.

“I’ve still got a lot left in me, I’m definitely going to try and drop that time this season.”

Harrison has run six of the seven fastest times this year, and two of the four fastest ever.

harrison

Defending Olympic champion Sally Pearson will also miss out in Rio after tearing a hamstring last month.

Analysis

Four-time Olympic champion and BBC Sport pundit Michael Johnson said he had “never seen a race like that”.

He added: “That record stood for 28 years, and could stand for another 28 years.

“She was almost a hurdle ahead of a world-class field. So much can go wrong in a hurdles race but she was flawless.

“I am so happy for her because it would have been a long difficult summer with her not going to Rio, but that world record makes up for it.”

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