PARIS, France — Double world champion Danielle Williams had to shake off the huge disappointment of a rare global championships failure when she hit two hurdles and could only trail in sixth in the first of three 100-metre hurdles semi-finals.

Williams, in lane five, got away quickly and was leading Nigeria’s world record holder Tobi Amusan when she struck two of the first four hurdles and was unable to recover, sauntering home sixth in a time of 12.82.

Amusan, who clocked an amazing 12.12 in Eugene two years ago, eventually dead-heated for third place but her time was also not fast enough to make the eight athletes who will contest Saturday’s final.

Williams, world number one at Beijing, China, in 2015 and again in Budapest, Hungary, last year, was surprisingly philosophical about her misfortune

“It’s hard to explain but I stepped into hurdle two, which is not something that ever happens, and I lost my balance and my only thought was to get back into the race. In trying to do that I hit hurdle four and there was no recovery from that!” the slightly bemused 31-year-old, originally from St Andrew, said.

“It’s obviously not the best performance, [not] the best execution by me but, through it all, God’s will is sovereign and this is what he had in his vision, although it wasn’t mine,” Williams added.

She said she left it all on the track.

“I’ve no regrets as I always show up and give my best. I would have liked to have been in final but I have to hold my head high and keep looking towards the next target.”

When asked about the future in relation to the Tokyo 2025 World Championships, Williams gave little away.

“I have no ideas for next season [World Championship] year again with Tokyo 2025 and a possible hat-trick of titles beckoning. I have to process this first and go forward.

“It doesn’t knock my confidence as my confidence is in Jesus and the gift he has given me. I know that I am still one of the best hurdlers in the world. I am a two-time champion, so a [I am a] championships performer, but it just wasn’t meant to happen today,” she said.

“It’s [the Olympics] been a bit different to the other major championships. There have been lots of firsts, but at my first World Championships I didn’t make it to the final either.

“I like to go out on a high note so, If it’s God’s will, I will be in Los Angeles [the Olympic venue for 2028] in four year’s time,” Williams noted.

Ackera Nugent was edged into third in heat three but her time of 12.44 was enough to earn her a place in the final as the fastest non-automatic qualifier, while fellow Jamaican Janeek Brown eliminated after placing seventh in heat two in 12.92.