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Track and field: Lolo Jones, United States

** FILE ** In this July 14, 2008 file photo, Lolo Jones, a native of Des Moines, Iowa, smiles during an Olympic sendoff rally in Des Moines. Jones, who won the 100-meter hurdles at the U.S. Olympic trials, may compete against a racehorse at the Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino after competing in the Beijing Olympics. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall) ORG XMIT: IACN101 (Charlie Neibergall / The Spokesman-Review)
** FILE ** In this July 14, 2008 file photo, Lolo Jones, a native of Des Moines, Iowa, smiles during an Olympic sendoff rally in Des Moines. Jones, who won the 100-meter hurdles at the U.S. Olympic trials, may compete against a racehorse at the Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino after competing in the Beijing Olympics. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall) ORG XMIT: IACN101 (Charlie Neibergall / The Spokesman-Review)

BEIJING – First came the knowing smile, just as Lolo Jones crossed the Olympic finish line Monday night after 12.43 seconds in the semifinals of the women’s 100-meter hurdles.

Then the tongue snuck out, just slightly, enough to display confidence rather than cockiness.

“I’m just trying to have a little fun,” Jones said. “I have to forget about this personal best as soon as I leave the stadium. So, enjoy the moment for a minute or two, then forget it and refocus for (today’s final).”

Jones started slowly in her semifinal, but finished with a 26-year-old’s kick to record the fastest time of the night.

The time also was the third-fastest ever posted at an Olympics, trailing only 1988 Bulgarian champ Yordanka Donkova (12.38) and 2004 U.S. Olympic champion Joanna Hayes (12.37).

No one else in the finals has cracked 12.44 in their careers – a time Jones dented one round away from Olympic gold.

Des Moines Register