Michelle Jenneke has bounced, danced and jiggled her way into her third Commonwealth Games 100m hurdles final.
With her trademark pre-race routine in full rotation at Alexander Stadium, Jenneke produced one of the best races of her career to run a wind-affected 12.63sec.
It was three hundredths of a second faster than her personal best which she set at last month’s world championships in Eugene but with an illegal wind of 2.4 mph (2.0 is the legal mark).
Read Next
“It doesn’t count as a legal time but, that’s the fastest I’ve ever covered a 100m over hurdles so really stoked,” a beaming Jenneke said.
WATCH: Women’s 100m hurdles
WHEN: Sunday, August 7
TIME: 7.25pm AEST on Channel 7
“I felt really good in warm up, my coach (Gary Bourne) was saying I look a little bit better than a few weeks ago which is pretty incredible.
“I think that I struggled a little bit with the travel. After my race at Eugene I was on a bus at 3am to go to Portland to travel over here so it has taken a little while for the body to feel OK again.
“I don’t feel like I really ran through the end all that well so hopefully I have got a little bit more to give in the final in a couple of days.”
Jenneke says she isn’t intimidated by new world record holder Tobi Amusan who she finished behind in the heat with the Nigerian easily the quickest qualifier in 12.40sec.
“She is incredible. I am one of those people, I don’t want an easy heat, I want to be racing the best. I think that is how I get the best out of myself which I think I proved today by running that time,” she said.
“I am really looking forward to racing her again in the final. If I am honest I am not someone who as a young athlete at my first champs got really intimidated by anyone.
“For me when I go out there I am just trying to put my best foot forward and they are trying to do the same thing and if they beat me they beat me.
“As long as I am doing my best that is all I care about, I am not too focused on what other athletes are doing except for using them to get fast times.”
Jenneke, 29, finished fourth at the 2018 Gold Commonwealth Games and is hoping her burst of career form can get her into the medals.
“I’m in the shape of my life and it’s just really exciting. I still feel I’ve got a little more in the tank but this is a very strong field,” she said.
I didn’t actually look at who showed up today but on the start list there were five of the eight who were in the world champs final so it’s a very strong field here.
“I don’t know if I will be quite good enough for a medal but hopefully I can run a personal best and see where that puts me.”
Melbourne’s Celeste Mucci also made it through to the final after finishing third in her heat, equalling her personal best time of 12.96sec.
Melbourne
Read Next
Comments
Reader comments on this site are moderated before publication to promote lively, but civil and respectful debate. We encourage your comments but submitting one does not guarantee publication. You can read our comment guidelines here. If you believe a comment has been rejected in error, email comments@theaustralian.com.au and we’ll investigate. Please ensure you include the email address you use to log in so we can locate your comment.