Williams fully focused ahead of 100m hurdles semis

Danielle Williams celebrated her birthday by leading Jamaica’s three competitors into the second round of the 100-metre hurdles, before emphasising how inspirational iconic teammate Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is in terms of longevity.

Double World and defending champion Williams, now 33, is among the senior members of the high hurdles elite and was bouncy but relaxed when emerging from the Tokyo humidity, having cruised to the fastest time of 12.40 seconds in the second of six heats.

“Feeling blessed and very grateful to have advanced to the next round, as the main aim was to do that as easily as possible,” said Williams, who won in Beijing back in 2015, as well as in Budapest two years ago.

“I’m a perfectionist and would give it a B-plus, as there is no perfect race.

“I had a small hiccup around hurdles eight or nine and need to get better, but I’ll take what I did today.

“My body feels good and I feel focused.

“I trust in my training, my ability; and trust God and believe that what we have done up to now will be sufficient.

“It’s awesome to see what Shelly-Ann is still doing – it’s definitely not easy to stay motivated and to keep pushing for so many years.

“She is definitely an inspiration to me and gives me hope that maybe I can do the same.”

Having set her personal best earlier this year, the double world champion and 2019 Diamond League winner thinks that, still five years Fraser-Pryce’s junior, she can still get faster over 100m and 10 barriers.

“I believe so - if God permits, then anything is possible,” she confirmed.

Nugent, whose hopes of an Olympic title were so cruelly crushed by clattering the first hurdle in Paris 13 months ago, was equally smooth in progressing as winner of heat four (12.54), while in the following race, Amoi Brown marked her debut on the world stage with a comfortable third-place qualification.

“I am blessed (to be in her first major championship) and am here to put my best foot forward and take it one step at a time,” said Brown, after clocking 12.82 in the same heat as current world number one Grace Stark.