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Cherry Advances In Hurdles

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By BILL WARD

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 18, 2008

She wasn't among the automatic qualifiers and she's suffering the effects of a flu bug, but Leto High and University of South Florida product Damu Cherry still managed to escape the first qualifying round of the women's 100-meter hurdles.

Running in her first race since the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials more than a month ago, the 30-year-old Cherry opened her Olympic competition Sunday evening in the first round of her hurdles event at the National Stadium - a k a the Bird's Nest - in Beijing.

She had what she called a slow start out of the blocks but put some of that down to the flu.

"I had the flu last night and just didn't react. I had to play catch-up during the race," Cherry said. "We'll see what happens. I felt flat today. There's no excuse. It is what it is."

Cherry finished third in the second of five qualifying heats with a time of 12.92 seconds. The top two in each heat automatically qualified for the semifinals, as well as the next six fastest times. Cherry's 12.92 was the fastest non-automatic qualifying time.

The top time turned in for the opening round was 12.68, run by both Spain's Josephine Nnkiruka Onyia and Sweden's Susanna Kallur. Cherry's U.S. teammates, Lolo Jones and Dawn Harper, were among the automatic qualifiers for the semifinals. Jones won her heat in 12.71 and Harper finished second in hers at 12.73.

The semifinals are scheduled for today at 7:40 p.m. in Beijing (7:40 this morning in Tampa). For that race, Cherry has drawn Lane 8, next to Harper in Lane 7. Jones will run in the first semifinal heat.

BEN BARGER: After seven races in RS:X Windsurfer, Barger is in 26th place overall. Barger finished in 32nd out of 35 sailors in Race 6 and 25th in Race 7.

Keyword: Olympic Journey, to keep up with Damu Cherry during her time in Beijing.

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