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Kentucky hurdler Jasmine Camacho-Quinn crashes out of semifinals

RIO DE JANEIRO — Instead of making the finals, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn ended up in a tearful heap on the track in the Olympic 100-meter hurdles semifinals Wednesday night at the Olympic Stadium.

Jasmine Camacho-Quinn (PUR) reacts after competing in the women's 100m hurdle semifinals during the track and field competition of the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games at Estadio Olimpico Joao Havelange. (Photo: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports)

RIO DE JANEIRO — Instead of making the finals, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn ended up in a tearful heap on the track in the Olympic 100-meter hurdles semifinals Wednesday night at the Olympic Stadium.

Camacho-Quinn, competing for Puerto Rico, was among the leaders through seven hurdles. But she knocked down the eighth and ninth hurdles as she cleared them and then stumbled and fell through the 10th and final hurdle.

On her hands and knees, she slapped the track with bitter disappointment and shook with tears before getting up and crossing the finish line, though she was disqualified, and then collapsed in agony again.

“I just overreacted,” she said, still fighting back tears almost 15 minutes later. “I’d seen I was in the lead so I was trying to keep it there so I could make the finals. But I just forgot all about my form.”

She struck the eighth and ninth hurdles with her lead foot, which slowed her pace and sent her tumbling into the 10th.

“I was panicking a little bit,” said Camacho-Quinn, who felt she had a smooth stride going up to that point. “I was focused on my lane. It just happened so quick.”

The North Charleston, S.C., resident, 19, was SEC and NCAA outdoor champion in the 100 hurdles this spring for the University of Kentucky. She was the first freshman to ever win that event at the NCAA meet.

Camacho-Quinn’s mother, Maria, is from Puerto Rico, which made her eligible to compete for its Olympic team.

American Nia Ali won the semifinal heat in 12.65. The slowest time to reach the finals was 12.82.

Camacho-Quinn won her opening heat Tuesday in 12.70.

“I’m young and I still have my future ahead of me,” she said. “I thought I was ready for this race. I apologize to Puerto Rico. I got desperate at the end.”

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