JAMAICA | Tapper takes Olympic bronze in 100m hurdles
TOKYO, Japan – August 2, 2021 - Megan Tapper is the first Jamaican ever to win a medal in the women’s sprint hurdles at the Olympics, after speeding to 12.55 seconds to take bronze in Tokyo.
The national champion, who had done a career-best 12.53 seconds in the semi-finals, produced a late sprint over the last three hurdles to secure the historic medal for Jamaica.
Tapper was drawn in lane nine and came from well behind over the last two barriers to edge Nigeria's Tobi Amusan who ran 12.60 seconds.
Her Jamaican teammate Britany Anderson, who ran a personal best 12.40 seconds in the semifinals, finished in eighth place in 13.24 seconds.
Tapper joins male compatriots Hansle Parchment (bronze in London, 2012) and Omar McLeod (gold in Rio, 2016) as Jamaican medallists in the sprint hurdles at the Olympics.
Jasmine Camacho-Quinn won the gold in 12.37 seconds to give Puerto Rico its first-ever gold in the event at the Olympics. American world record holder Kendra Harrison took the silver with 12.52 seconds.
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