With World and Olympic champion Felix Sanchez who suffered a hamstring injury at the Brussels Golden League meeting two weeks ago, watching from the stands of the Louis II stadium here in Monaco, the win in the men’s 400m Hurdles went to 21-year-old Bershawn Jackson of the US.
Jackson who missed out on the Athens Olympic Games as he only came fourth at the US Trials shove off 22 hundredths of a second off his personal best to clock 47.86, the third world best performance of the year, and secured the 30,000 dollars cheque.
US champion James Carter and Kemel Thompson of Jamaica were second and third respectively with both athletes being given the same time of 48.06 (a new season’s best for Thompson).
Olympic silver medallist Danny Mc Farlane (JAM) was fastest out of the blocks and was leading the field up until the seventh hurdle. Coming out of the final bend, Jackson made his move and took the lead coming off the eighth barrier. Despite briefly slowing down to adjust his stride pattern leading up to the final barrier, Jackson had enough resources to secure a comfortable win.
Mc Farlane was still in contention for second in the run-in but he soon started to fade clearly paying for his early race efforts and leaving the way for Carter and Thompson.
Mc Farlane just held on for fourth in 48.23 as the winner of the last two Golden League meetings Bayano Kamani of Panama could never overcome the handicap of running in lane one and had to be content with fifth in 48.24.
Local favourite Naman Keita of France who won a surprising bronze medal in Athens was expected to run a strong final straight like he did in all his races this year, but he was never able to catch up with the leaders having left his surge too late. The Frenchman was seventh in 48.82, one tenth of a second behind Dai Tamesue of Japan.
Great Britain’s Christopher Rawlinson cut his efforts in the last fifty metres and finished a distant eighth and last in 51.14.
“I didn’t go to the Olympics because I made a mistake at the Trials,” said Jackson. “I knew it was just a matter of time before I come out with fast times.”
“Last year I was a freshman in college, now I’ve decided to turn pro. As a 20 year old, I’m just learning the sport. It gives me great confidence for next year, I’m ready to go.”
LA