With World champion Jana Pittman deciding to return to Australia after her superb win at the Paris World Championships and World record holder Yulia Pechonkina suffering from bronchitis and withdrawing from the competition two days ago it was all going to be a lot easier for US champion Sandra Glover in the women's 400m Hurdles.
After a typically – for her – modest start and a strong final surge, Glover crossed the finish line in 53.65 (the exact same time with which she won silver at the World Championships) to claim her ninth European-soil win of the season.
European champion Ionela Tirlea of Romania was fastest out of the blocks and still in the lead after the fourth barrier. But Tirlea was not to remain in the lead as she was soon overtaken by Glover who decided to make her move halfway into the final bend.
Glover’s acceleration somehow overshadowed South Africa’s World Championships finalist Surita Febbraio's injury who stopped before entering the final bend evidently suffering from a muscular problem.
Glover entered the home straight confidently in the lead with Andrea Blackett of Barbados closing up on her. The American made a point of outsprinting Blackett (54.28) who had surprisingly defeated her a few days ago in the Italian city of Rovereto.
“I am so glad the race went well. It was my last race of the season and I felt so nervous before the start for some reason; probably I wanted to end on a good note.”
Tirlea held on to third in 54.44 while Tetiana Tereschuk-Antipova was fourth in 54.63.
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