Lolo Jones, Dawn Harper, Kellie Wells reach 100 hurdles final

Lolo Jones competes in the 100-meter hurdles.

By Helene Elliott

Aug. 7, 2012 12 AM PT

LONDON — All three American women advanced to the finals of the 100-meter hurdles Tuesday, though Lolo Jones just barely made it after finishing third in her semifinal heat.

The final will be contested later Tuesday, at 9 p.m. in London.

Defending Olympic champion Dawn Harper opened the semifinals with a personal-best time of 12.46 seconds, faster than her winning time four years ago in Beijing. Runner-up Beate Schrott of Austria (23.83) automatically advanced.

Australia’s Sally Pearson, in the next heat, responded with a scorching 12.39 to win going away. Canada’s Jessica Zelinka advanced as the runner-up in that heat with a time of 12.66, leaving Jones in suspense after she ran a 12.71.

Kellie Wells won the final heat in a season-best 12.51 seconds, with Nevin Yanit of Turkey second in a national-record 12.58 seconds. Phylicia George of Canada (12.65) and Jones advanced as the next fastest finishers after the first two in each semifinal.

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Helene Elliott

Helene Elliott was with the Los Angeles Times’ Sports department from 1989 to 2024, first as a staff writer and then, starting in 2006, as a columnist. She became the first female journalist to be honored with a plaque in the Hall of Fame of a major professional sport as the 2005 winner of the Hockey Hall of Fame’s Elmer Ferguson Award, awarded to writers “who have brought honor to journalism and to hockey.” A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., and graduate of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, she has covered 18 Olympics.

Lolo Jones, Dawn Harper, Kellie Wells reach 100 hurdles final

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