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.”
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