Taheisa Harrigan-Scott, far right, competes in the women’s 100-metre heat five in Beijing, China against Guam’s Regine Tugade, Ukraine’s Olesya Povkh and Trinidad and Tobago’s Semoy Hackett. Photo: DEAN GREENAWAY

Tahesia Harrigan-Scott came into the 15th IAAF World Track and Field Championships in Beijing, China riding a wave of recent strong performances, but failed to make the semifinals in the 100-metres.

Taheisa Harrigan-Scott, far right, competes in the women’s 100-metre heat five in Beijing, China against Guam’s Regine Tugade, Ukraine’s Olesya Povkh and Trinidad and Tobago’s Semoy Hackett. Photo: DEAN GREENAWAY
During the recent Pan Am Games and the North American, Central American and Caribbean Championships, she ran under 11.22 seconds in all of her 100-metre preliminary races. And, all of her performances were 11.28 seconds or better.

Returning to Beijing’s Bird’s Nest National Stadium where she competed during the 2008 Olympic Games and had subsequent runs since, the VI’s 100- and 200-metre standard bearer was eyeing a spot in the 100-metre semifinals.

However, she finished fifth — a non-advancing position in her heat — in 11.47 seconds. 

“I lost it from my first step out of the blocks because my body collapsed,” Ms. Harrigan-Scott said. “I felt like I was fighting my entire drive phase trying to get my body in the right position and stay in the race and it just went downhill from there.”

Ms. Harrigan-Scott said she was optimistic coming into the competition.

“I was in no way shape or form expecting the results I produced today,” she said after qualifying for her sixth straight championships, but turned in her worst result of them all. “Practices and race preparations felt good, but it just didn’t come together today. I’m nowhere in 11.47 shape. Negative wind or not, practices were going well and indicated that I should have ran a personal best.”

Her focus now turns to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, which she has already qualified for. She said she doesn’t have to alter any of her training plans leading up to her third Olympic Games.

“I will do the same things I have been doing to get me here,” she said. “Wouldn’t change anything. I dropped the ball at this meet.”

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