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Report07 Aug 1997


Event report women 400 m hurdles final

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Moroccan Nezha Bidouane won the first women’s gold medal in the World Championships for her country by winning the 400 metres hurdles in a new African record of 52.97. Running from lane 3, Bidouane seemed out of contention in the initial stages, and by the 200 metres mark she was a well back in 4th place. The 1996 Olympic champion, Jamaican Deon Hemmings was the early leader, with the defending champion, 1997 world leader and world record holder, American Kim Batten, also moving fast. At the 300 metres mark, Hemmings was 1st, Batten 2nd and Bidouane 3rd, still some 5 metres behind the others. At the last hurdle Bidouane caught Batten and went after Hemmings. With an amazing closing drive, she took the lead in the final steps and celebrated at the finish line. Hemmings’s time, 53.09 was a season best. Batten finished in 53.52. The victor joins her countrywoman, Nawal El Moutawakel now a member of the IAAF Council, in winning gold in the 400 hurdles in a major championship. El Moutawakel won at the 1984 Olympics.
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