World Championships 2009 100m hurdles: Brigitte gets the last laugh

The World Championships are coming and Jamaicans all over the world are looking forward to the showpiece track and field event they have done well at since its first staging all the way back in 1983. In the weeks approaching the World Championships, The Gleaner is dedicating some of its space to reminding its readers about some of the moments that have kept this great event near and dear to our hearts. Keep on the lookout for ‘Great Races’ this, and every Sunday until the World Championships in July.

JAMAICA HAS witnessed four sprint hurdles global title winners in its history.

Hansle Parchment is the most recent, capturing the men’s 110m hurdles title at last year’s Tokyo Olympics. Omar McLeod tasted 110m hurdles glory twice, at the 2016 Rio Olympics and the 2017 World Championships in London, and Danielle Williams ascended to the throne in 2015 in Beijing in the women’s 100m hurdles.

However, the foundation of those title successes was set in 2009 in Berlin by Brigitte Foster-Hylton, who not only made history for Jamaica, but was also rewarded for staying the course after contemplating retirement in 2008.

While Jamaicans were relishing the glory of sweeping the sprint events for both men and women, Foster-Hylton’s latest charge to an Olympic medal ended in disappointment, finishing sixth in the 100m women’s final. Frustrated at yet another failed Olympic campaign, Foster-Hylton, at the time, had intended to walk away from the sport for good.

Jamaica had never won a major global title in the sprint hurdles before 2009. Foster-Hylton had got silver and bronze medals at the 2003 and 2005 World Championships, but a gold always seemed elusive.

“We have had some quality hurdlers over the years,” Foster-Hylton said in a World Athletics interview in 2009.

“Delloreen Ennis-London, Michelle Freeman, Lacena Golding-Clarke, Vonette Dixon. We have a very good depth of sprint hurdlers but nobody has won a global title.”

The trend seemed set to continue until her coach, Stephen Francis, convinced her to give it another shot in 2009, believing that she had more to offer.

“I give it all to my coach because I retired last year after the Beijing Olympics because I was so disappointed at not winning a medal,” Foster-Hylton said.

MORE TO OFFER

“He didn’t have to say much to dissuade me because I have such confidence in him. He just told me: ‘You have more to offer. I want you to hang in there a little bit more. I promise you that you will do well next year’.”

Foster-Hylton almost didn’t compete in Berlin as the Jamaica Atheltics Administrative Association had initially suspended athletes from the Francis-led-MVP track club camp because of a failure to attend the national training camp. The issue was resolved and Foster-Hylton would get her chance.

Facing a loaded field which included her countrywoman, Ennis-London, reigning Olympic Champion Dawn Harper and two-time World Champion Michelle Perry, both of the United States, 2003 world champion Perdita Felicien and Priscilla Lopes-Schliep of Canada, as well as Australia’s Sally Pearson.

Foster-Hylton had the second-fastest times in her opening rounds, including a season’s best of 12.54 seconds in the semi-finals. Only Harper had run faster with a personal best of 12.48. Before the semi-final and final, Foster-Hylton’s said that her dreams were not encouraging.

“I dreamt that I got second, I dreamt that I got fourth, I dreamt all kinds of crazy things,” she said. “But I didn’t dream that I won.”

The reality would be satisfying, historic and emotional.

Harper would get a poor start and struggle while Foster-Hylton answered the gun well and powered to take the lead ahead of Lopes-Schliep, a lead she would not surrender in a season’s best winning time of 12.51, becoming the first Jamaican male or female to win a global sprint hurdles title.

Foster-Hylton wasn’t sure herself of what she had accomplished but once she heard her name called as champion, her joy was palpable, echoing screams of delight while hugging Lopes-Schliep, who was second.

Foster-Hylton’s joy was only matched by Ennis-London’s who got bronze and shared in the euphoria. At 34 years of age, she also became the oldest World champion at the event. It was history for Jamaica but validation for the trust she placed in Francis and his never-wavering belief in her.

“He helped me to stay positive, have faith, and have confidence in my preparation. I had confidence that, if I went out and executed, stayed in control of my race and stayed confident, I would pull it off somehow,” she said. “I’m glad it paid off.”

It would be Foster-Hylton’s only World title. She would retire after the London 2012 Olympics having not earned an Olympic medal.

But Jamaica would get their first Olympic medal in the 100m hurdles when Megan Tapper took bronze at last year’s Tokyo Olympics.

daniel.wheeler@gleanerjm.com