PARIS (Reuters) – China’s Wu Yanni met fresh disappointment in the 100 metres hurdles repechage on Thursday when she failed to advance after her coach said her performance had been affected by her period.
Wu’s sixth-place finish in the opening stage of the competition trended on Chinese social media after her coach said she had been struggling with physical challenges related to her menstrual cycle.
Asia’s second-fastest hurdler this year, Wu was not at her best level again in the repechage. She made a slow start and finished fourth in her heat in 12.98.
The top two finishers in each of the three repechage heats moved on to Friday’s semi-final.
The repechage round — which gives athletes a pathway to the semi-finals if they fail to qualify on the first try — was introduced to the programme this year to largely positive reaction.
American hurdler Freddie Crittenden completed a circuitous route to the 110m hurdles final on Wednesday after a calculated decision to take it easy through his opening heat, allowing himself a couple of days’ extra rest for an aggravated groin muscle.
Bahamian twice 400 champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo took a shot in the repechage on Tuesday in an injury-plagued season, after she pulled up midway and finished last in her preliminary. She did not advance.
(Reporting by Amy Tennery in Paris; editing by Clare Fallon)
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