In the first round, former world record holder Kendra Harrison ran 12.24, equalling her own #4 performance in history, leaving her with three of the top 5 races ever. Even her 12.33 in the semi-finals had only been beaten by ten women ever, but four of them made the finals along with her: Tobi Amusan, the defending champion who set the world record in the semi-final round at the previous championships; Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, Olympic Champion; Nia Ali, 2019 champion; and Danielle Williams, the 2015 champion. From that elite field, Devynne Charlton was the first one over the first hurdle. Charlton maintained that advantage as Camacho-Quinn and Harrison were trying to reel her in while Ali was hitting hurdles. Almost unnoticed in lane 2, Williams was getting up a head of steam, pulling even with Charlton by the fifth hurdle and taking a clear lead by the seventh. By the eighth, Harrison had gotten by Charlton and had separated to second. At the ninth, Camacho-Quinn got past Charlton and moving the fastest. Camacho-Quinn and Harrison cleared the last hurdle together, still marginally behind Williams. Camacho-Quinn closed quickly to make a photo finish with Williams, leaving Harrison with bronze. The photo gave it to Williams.
Records
Before the competition records were as follows:[2]
Round 1 will take place on 22 August, with the 43 athletes involved being split into 5 heats of 9 athletes each. The first 4 athletes in each heat ( Q ) and the next 4 fastest ( q ) qualify for the semi-final.[4] The overall results were as follows:[5]
The semi-final took place on 23 August, with the 24 athletes involved being split into 3 heats. The first 2 athletes in each heat ( Q ) and the next 2 fastest ( q ) qualified for the final.[6] The overall results were as follows:[7]