Kerrica Hill Seeking to Retain 100m Hurdles Title

Jamaica’s Kerrica Hill will seek to retain her 100-metres hurdles title when she competes at the World Under-20 Championships in Lima, Peru, from August 27-31.

After winning the title in Cali, Colombia two years ago, Hill went on to reduce her Personal Best to 12.75 seconds, last year, moving to equal third on the world all-time list.

The Jamaican, who also won world Under-20 golds in the 4×100 metres relay in 2021 and 2022, has raced sparingly this year, but in her most recent outing she clocked 12.85 seconds, the fastest time in the world this year by an Under-20 athlete.

Only one other sprint hurdler this year has broken 13 seconds, Hill’s teammate Habiba Harris.

She clocked a Personal Best of 12.95 back in March, then ran a wind-assisted 12.93 to win the Carifta title in April.

Several other athletes are close to the 13-second barrier and will be hopeful of contesting for medals in Lima.

They include Cuba’s Jocelyn Loreta Echazabal, France’s Laura Montauban, Croatia’s Mia Wild and USA’s Ana-Liese Torian.

Meanwhile, Jamaica should start favourite to win the women’s sprint relay.

Jamaica has won this title at the past two editions of the Championships, and in 2022 in Cali their quartet turned in a spectacular performance to break the world Under-20 record, clocking 42.59 seconds.

With Alana Reid, Thieanna Lee Terrelonge and Shanoya Douglas in their ranks along with sprint hurdlers Kerrica Hill and Habiba Harris, they undoubtedly possess the strength to successfully defend their title if things click in Lima.

USA should also feature strongly with the likes of Elise Cooper, Cynteria James and Taylor Snaer among those who should feature.

Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Germany and Australia are among the nations to have run close to 44 seconds already this season, with Torrie Lewis likely to play a key role for the Australians and Nia Wedderburn-Goodison set to do similar for Britain.