American favorite Grant Holloway demonstrated his exceptional form in the 110 meters hurdles by qualifying fastest for the Olympic final, where three Americans will compete against three Jamaicans.
The triple world champion, who was unexpectedly defeated by Jamaica’s Hansle Parchment in Tokyo, delivered his trademark explosive start and was a meter ahead by the third hurdle.
Holloway crossed the finish line in 12.98 seconds, the only runner to go under 13 seconds in the heats, and will need a significant mishap to miss out on gold in the final.
The 110 meters hurdles is a discipline in which the U.S. has historically excelled, boasting 19 gold, 21 silver, and 17 bronze medals for a total of 57. However, Aries Merritt’s victory in 2012 remains their sole gold medal in the event over the last six Games.
The Americans will have a triple shot at another after Freddie Crittenden completed his circuitous route to the final.
Crittenden came through via the repechage round in a calculated decision after jogging his heat to earn a couple of extra days of recovery for a groin strain.
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He qualified in 13.23 on Wednesday behind heat winner Rasheed Broadbell of Jamaica.
Daniel Roberts completed the lineup of the three Americans, who are the three fastest in the world this year – all three times posted at the U.S. trials.
Orlando Bennett won the final heat in 13.09 and his fellow Jamaican as defending champion Parchment continued his unusual route to the final.
Parchment finished fifth in his heat, one of four athletes given times of 13.43 seconds behind winner Xu Zhuoyi (13.40), but still scraped into the semis.
He made another terrible start on Wednesday and, though he recovered well to equal his season’s best of 13.19 finished third in his heat.
That gave him another anxious wait before going through as one of the fastest losers – albeit in the fifth-quickest time of the eight finalists.