Great Britain's Tiffany Porter is through to the 100m hurdles semi-final

Woodford Green athlete is fighting fit and in the semi-final

Woodford Green with Essex Ladies athlete Tiffany Porter breezed through to the 100 metres hurdles semi-finals after coming through her heat in third place on Monday morning.

The Michigan born athlete – whose mother Lillian was born in London – shot out of the blocks, but eased off towards the end of the race and clocked 12.79 seconds.

Porter’s preparations for the Games have been disrupted by a back injury that hampered her at a Diamond League meeting in Crystal Palace last month.

But the 24-year-old allayed any fears about her fitness.

“I’m fine now and looking forward to the semi-final,” Porter told the BBC.

“I haven’t raced since Crystal Palace, so I just wanted to come out, be safe and qualify for the next round.”

Porter, labelled a ‘plastic Brit’ by a national newspaper when she captained Team GB at the World Indoor Championships earlier this year, clearly had the crowd on her side and was greeted with a huge cheer when her name was announced to a packed Olympic Stadium.

And the World and European indoor silver medallist admitted the reaction helped to settle her pre-race nerves.

“It was wonderful,” she added. “It helped push me through.

“I was really nervous, I haven’t slept much in the last few days and it’s great it’s over.”