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Report04 Aug 2012


London 2012 - Event Report - Men's 400m Hurdles Semi-Finals

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(L-R) David Greene of Great Britain, Kerron Clement of the United States and Jehue Gordon of Trinidad and Tobago compete in the Men's 400m Hurdles Semi Finalon Day 8 of the London 2012 Olympic Games on 4 August 2012 (© Getty Images)

All the big names and candidates to win the men’s 400m Hurdles title advanced to Monday night’s final but it was home crowd hero and reigning World champion David Greene who suffered the biggest scare as he only advanced as the last qualified athlete by time.

Drawn in the first and strongest of the three semi-finals, Greene went through the line in fourth position which meant he would have a long wait until he would know whether or not his 48.19 would prove enough for a place in the final. Former World champion Kerron Clement who ran a season’s best 48.12 for third in that semi would have to endure the same wait but eventually both advanced as the two next fastest.

But Greene remarked: "That's no way for a World champion to qualify. I'm very disappointed in myself."

Attention in that race was drawn by 2004 Olympic champion Felix Sanchez all the way from the gun as the Dominican destroyed the field and clocked his fastest time since winning the Athens gold eight years ago! His 47.76 is not only the fastest clocked today it is also the fastest time in the world this year.

"I'm confident I can compete with anyone in this event," Sanchez said. "When I crossed the line, I had to check the scoreboard to check that I had done 47.7, but it means nothing if you can't do it again in the final."

Behind Sanchez, 20-year-old former World Junior champion Jehue Gordon who was fourth at the Berlin World Championships three years ago finished strong to take second in a new national record 47.96. It was the Trinidadian’s first dip under 48 seconds and it came at just the right time.

The second semi-final featured the defending Olympic champion Angelo Taylor and the World season’s leader (before Sanchez’ run) Javier Culson and as expected the race proved to be a 2-way battle.

It was Taylor who made the early pace, the American having a comfortable lead all the way to the eighth hurdle. Culson ran a more conservative semi and only just made his move in the final stretch although it took the Puerto Rican more than what he would have expected to come level with Taylor.

"I will run better in the final," said Taylor. "I made a couple of mistakes and it cost me the win. I can't do that in the final. I am experienced, I am confident in my strength and skills and I am ready."

The heat win went to Culson at 47.93 with Taylor just a couple of hundredths off both athletes not pushing it to the line. Cuba’s Omar Cisneros closed quickly but his 48.23 for third would remain the fastest ever time in the history not to make an Olympic final.

The final heat was not as dense as the previous races with Michael Tinsley taking a comfortable win in 48.18, the American champion closing strongly on early leader Leford Green of Jamaica who will also feature in the final.

Running in heat two, the other Green in the semi-finals, Great Britain’s Jack unfortunately pulled up injured on the back straight.

Monday’s final has all the ingredients for a magnificent race and with the fast track at the London Olympic stadium one may be tempted to mention Kevin Young’s 46.78 World record whose 20th Anniversary ironically falls on Monday!

A fact which most probably is not unknown to the 8 finalists among which are the defending Olympic champion, the 2004 Olympic champion, the reigning World and European champion, the previous World champion, the reigning World silver medallist and the American champion! Truly all the ingredients needed for a good recipe…

Laura Arcoleo for the IAAF
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