After an enthralling Day 1 of the LA Grand Prix 2024 at Drake Stadium, Day 2 kicked off with another highly anticipated showdown in the women’s 100m hurdles. All eyes were on reigning Olympic champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn and the field of eight contenders, with a majority of talented American competitors. However, drama ensued ahead of the race.

In a turn of events at the USATF LA Grand Prix 2024, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, the reigning Olympic gold medalist in the 100m hurdles from Puerto Rico, faced significant setbacks in the women’s 100m hurdles. The competition in Los Angeles saw Camacho-Quinn disqualified (DQ) for a false start, a rare and unfortunate occurrence for the accomplished athlete. Seizing the opportunity, Texas native Tonea Marshall dominated the field with a blazing performance.

USA’s Tonea Marshall takes the lead after the DQ drama

The incident unfolded swiftly, with Camacho-Quinn initially appearing to read and set at the starting blocks. However, the officials flagged her for a false start, leading to her disqualification. Despite this, Camacho-Quinn chose to run the race under protest, determined to maintain her competitive spirit. The race concluded with U.S. leader and Texas native Tonea Marshall maintaining her composure amidst the chaos, securing the win with an impressive time of 12.55 seconds. She competed against a strong field of athletes despite a headwind of -1.0 m/s. Her time was a season’s best.

Here are the official results of the LA Grand Prix  2024 women’s 100m hurdles, run into a headwind of -1.0 m/s:

1. Tonea Marshall (USA) – 12.55 seconds
2. Alaysha Johnson (USA) – 12.57 seconds (Season Best)
3. Cyrena Samba-Mayela (France) – 12.63 seconds
4. Talie Bonds (USA) – 12.85 seconds
5. Masai Russell (USA) – 12.88 seconds
6. Gabbi Cunningham (USA) – 13.45 seconds
7. Jasmine Camacho-Quinn (Puerto Rico) – Disqualified (DQ)
8. Christina Clemons (USA) – Did Not Start (DNS)

Camacho-Quinn’s determination to run under protest underscores her dedication despite the setback. Reflecting on the turn of events for Olympic champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, this is not her first disqualification challenge, recalling a similar setback she faced years ago on the Olympic stage.

Jasmine Camacho-Quinn faced a similar hurdle at the 2016 Rio Olympics

Jasmine Camacho-Quinn has had quite the Olympic journey. Back in the 2016 Rio Olympics, she faced a major setback when she tripped up in the 100-meter hurdles semi-finals, leading to disqualification. Talk about a tough break. But instead of letting that define her, she bounced back with a vengeance.

Fast forward to Tokyo 2021 and she owned the track. Clocking in at 12.26 seconds in the semi-final, she not only set an Olympic record but also tied for the fourth-fastest time in history. And then she went on to make history as the first athlete from Puerto Rico to snag gold in track and field.

She opened up about her journey with Olympic.com and said, “Even before my semis race in Tokyo, I just broke down crying because I was scared. I didn’t want the same thing to happen again. And then boom! I broke the Olympic record!” As we reflect on this as the track and field season progresses, all eyes will be on her to see how she bounces back from this challenging episode.

For now, Tonea Marshall’s victory stands out as a highlight of the LA Grand Prix 2024, showcasing the depth of talent in the women’s 100m hurdles. What are your thoughts on this race and the challenge faced by the Olympian? Share your thoughts in the comments below!