Perry powers toward another World Title in Osaka

Former Bruin Michelle Perry is the favorite to continue UCLA’s worldwide ownership of the women’s 100-meter Hurdles in the IAAF World Track & Field Championships in Osaka, Japan.

Perry had the fastest time in the semifinals at 12.55 and joins two other Americans in the final, former LSU star Lolo Jones and ex-Trojan Ginnie Powell.

After competing in the heptathlon in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Perry set her sights on the 100-meter Hurdles and another ex-Bruin, Olympic champion Joanna Hayes. Perry stormed to a World Championship gold medal in Helsinki in 2005 and is a runaway favorite to win tonight.

Hayes has been plagued by injuries, but if healthy next year, she and Perry could put two Bruins on the podium in Beijing.

Current Bruin Nicole Leach and ex-Bruin Sheena Johnson made it into the semi-finals of the women’s 400-meter Hurdles event, but did not qualify for the final. Johnson was fifth in semifinal one in 54.55, just 0.40 from a qualifying spot. Leach finished sixth in semi two in 56.10, ending a long season that started back in February. She’ll be a junior next spring and both have an excellent chance to make the U.S. Olympic track & field team next year.

Both ex-Bruin throwers didn’t make it to the final. American record holder Suzy Powell, also a former Bruin, didn’t throw very well in the women’s discus (195-5) and didn’t qualify for the final, a major disappointment. Jessica Cosby threw a respectable 222-9, but ended up short of the last qualifying mark (224-11).

One other former Bruin is still waiting to compete: high jumper Amy Acuff, who will have a qualifying round on August 31.