Jason Richardson set up an imposing task for himself on Friday when he blazed his way to a 13.39sec clocking in the second heat of the 110 metres hurdles. The 17-year-old American, who in the morning had run 50.96sec for the fastest 400m hurdles performance in his age group this year, now chipped more than one-tenth off his lifetime best to set another world leading mark.
On Friday, he has just 45 minutes to recover from his 400m hurdles semi-final before the sprint hurdles final.
he will need a much better start in the final than he showed today: he dwelt in his blocks, and after 20 metres was one-metre adrift of Saudi Arabia's Mubarak Al-Mabadi. But Richardson retained his composure, his technique was slick and sharp, and by the time he crossed the line he had reversed the advantage, the Saudi (13.50) and third-placed Ioannis Gasionis (13.85), of Greece, both setting personal bests.
Alexander John, from Germany, showed hurdling fluency as well as speed in the first heat, his technical ability helping him to win by a clear metre from Kevin Craddock, of the United States, who clocked a personal best 13.90sec to the heat winner's 13.73. Third-placed Carlos Jorge of the Dominican Republic's PB 13.93 was just good enough for a fastest loser's slot into the final.
