Full Results
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil – Fighting Illini hurdler Pedrya Seymour advanced to the 2016 Olympics 100m hurdles final with a 12.64 personal-record time in heat one of the semifinals. Her time placed her second in her heat and third overall. She returns to the track at 8:55 p.m. central time for the event final.
Competing out of lane nine in her heat, Seymour obliterated her pervious personal-best mark, and her own Bahamian national record, with a 0.19 second improvement. Her previous top time came at the NACAC Championships in July where she timed 12.83.
After falling behind her competitors initially, Seymour made a strong charge in the second half of the race, surging past the field and beating out Cindy Roleder (12.69) of Germany for the heat's second automatic qualifying spot. Briana Rollins (USA) timed 12.47 to win the heat, the top overall time of the semifinal round.
"She executed a very good start [to the race] that put her a position to be successful throughout the course of the race," explained Associate Head Coach Randy Gillon. "I spoke with her before the race and gave her something she needed to address in order to be successful, and she did just that. She executed just as I had hoped. The track there is extremely fast and, as seen by a number of the athletes falling, if you don't make the proper adjustments you'll run up on the hurdles. What she was able to do was stay within herself, stay composed and run a very strong race on the back end."
By advancing to tonight's Olympic final, Seymour becomes the first Illini track athlete to advance to an Olympic final since 100m hurdler Perdita Felicien did so at the Athens Games in 2004. The time also moves Seymour into second place on Illinois' all-time record list, passing fellow Olympian Susanna Kallur's 12.74 mark set back in 2001. Felicien holds the 100m hurdles school record with a time of 12.53.
The 100m hurdle final will broadcasted live on NBC with official start time of 8:55 p.m. central time. For complete coverage of the race and all things Fighting Illini Women's Track & Field, visit fightingillini.com and follow on Twitter and Instagram.
100m Hurdles Olympic Final Start List
2- Cindy Roleder (Germany)
3 – Tiffany Porter (Great Britain)
4 – Nia Ali (USA)
5 – Pedrya Seymour (Bahamas)
6 – Briana Rollins (USA)
7 – Kristi Castlin (USA)
8 – Cindy Ofili (Great Britain)
9 – Phylicia George (Canada)
