Jamaica’s Kerrica Hill has established herself as the frontrunner in the women’s 100m hurdles at the Lima 2024 World Athletics Junior Championships. Hill’s remarkable time of 13.18 seconds in Heat 1 not only secured her spot in the semifinals but also made her the fastest qualifier among her peers. Her performance was a showcase of speed and precision, setting the stage for what could be a golden run in the upcoming rounds. Also Kerrica Hill is the world record holder in the Under-20 women’s 100m hurdles. She set the record on August 2, 2022, at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Cali, Colombia, with a time of 12.77 seconds.
Other notable athletes also delivered strong performances across the heats. Finland’s Siiri Siirtola clocked 13.43 seconds in Heat 2, while Ukraine’s Alina Kyshkina set a personal record of 13.37 seconds in Heat 3, demonstrating her potential on the international stage. In Heat 4, Noah Waldron from the United States finished with a time of 13.55 seconds, ensuring her progression to the next round.
The competition remained fierce in the remaining heats, with Luciana Zapata of Colombia finishing Heat 5 in 13.57 seconds and Cuba’s Jocelyn Loreta impressing with a 13.36-second run in Heat 6. The final heat saw two standout performances: Australia’s Delta Amidzoviski recorded a personal best of 13.22 seconds, followed closely by Mia Wild from Paraguay, who crossed the finish line in 13.26 seconds.
As the championship progresses to the semifinals, Kerrica Hill’s outstanding performance sets her as the favorite for the title. However, with a strong lineup of competitors, the battle for the top spot promises to be intense.