This is Stuart Weir’s second piece about the Silesia DL match that took place on 25th August 2024.
100 hours
There have been so many significant events in the Silesian Diamond League that it may seem cheesy. pick one but i will. The women’s 100m hurdles was everything expected and more. It is interesting that 16 athletes competed for the ticket to the finals. The field included the 2024 Olympic champion, the 2023 world champion and six Paris Olympic finalists.
The first semi-final was won by Daniel Williams in 12.37, the second by Akera Nugent in 12.30. The final qualifying time was 12.56 which unfortunately eliminated the local favorite Pia Skrishishovska. In the final, Kenny Harrison ran 12.52 for eighth place. The winner was Akera Nugent in 12.29, Grace Stark in 12.37, world champion Danielle Williams in third in 12.38, and Olympic champion Masai Russell in fourth in 12.40. Remarkable times for the regular Diamond League.
Nugent, who reached the Olympic final but failed to finish, commented on his victory in Poland: “This is my first year competing as a professional and I’m grateful to just be able to compete against these amazing ladies. I’m just getting used to running on a leash. Coming here to compete against all the best in the world, on the one hand, I didn’t expect to win. on the other hand, I knew I just had to get on with it and do whatever was in my control. I don’t know what awaits me next season. I just want to be confident in what I’m doing and let things take their course.”
I texted Daniel Williams about how he could run 12.37 and 12.38 same afternoon and still didn’t win. He answered: “The obstacle landscape has changed dramatically.”
With 100m hurdles races in Rome and Zurich, spots in the Diamond League finals in Brussels are still at stake.
Interview with Ackera Nugent available https://diamondleague.virtualmixedzone.com/interview/ackera-nugent-womens-100m-hurdles/
