TAMPA - Former University of South Florida standout Damu Cherry was eliminated from competition in the 100-meter hurdles Wednesday at the 12th International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Track and Field Championships in Berlin.

Competing at the Championships for the first time in her career, Cherry finished third in her semifinal heat, running a 12.76 at Olympic Stadium to finish just short of a berth in the final.

The top eight competitors among the 24 who advanced from the first round Tuesday will compete in the final later in the day Wednesday. Cherry's time put her in a tie for ninth, as fellow American Virginia Powell grabbed the last spot with a time of 12.73. American Dawn Harper ran a 12.48 for the fastest time on the evening.

Cherry, who finished fourth at the Beijing Olympics last summer, owns a career best of 12.44, set in 2006. Of all the competitors in Berlin, Cherry holds the second-fastest career best, a mark that stands .02 seconds from the 10th-fastest time ever in women's 100 hurdles.

A former All-American in 2001 in the 4x100 meter relay at USF, Cherry still owns the school record in the 100 hurdles with a time of 13.24, set in 2000, and also holds the school indoor record in the 55 hurdles.

Cherry's finish at the World Championships comes on the heels of a successful summer for the former Bull.

Competing in the first of six meets that encompass the Golden League series in Berlin June 14, Cherry, 31, took first with a time of 12.76.

The series involves six track meets with five events for both men and women, and any athlete who wins their event at all six meets claims at least part of the $1 million jackpot. If no athlete is able to win all six meets in their event, athletes with five wins will share $500,000.

After finishing third at the 2009 USA Senior Outdoor Track and Field Championships June 27 with a time of 12.58 to qualify for the IAAF World Championships, Cherry captured the title at the Bislett Games in Oslo, Norway July 3 in 12.68 to remain alive in the hunt for the $1 million prize. She also finished second in 12.84 at the fifth meeting of the Alma Athle Tour (French professional Circuit) two days later on July 5.

Unfortunately for Cherry, she had no advanced plans to run in the third meet of the Golden League series in Rome July 10 and was eliminated from the jackpot as all lanes were already taken. She later competed in the fourth leg of the series, but took sixth with a time of 13.01 in Paris July 17.

Cherry was able to rebound, though, as she secured the fifth-fastest time in the world in 2009, running a 12.53 at the 25th Vardinoyiannia International Track and Field meet in Rethymno, Greece, on July 20.

In addition, former Bull Sasha Springer competed for Trinidad & Tobago at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games July 6 in Havana, Cuba, leading the 4x100 relay team to a third-place finish.