Propelled as much by his speed and talent as by his extensive big meet experience, American Terrence Trammell claimed a narrow victory in the men’s 60m Hurdles. The 27-year-old Trammell, a two-time Olympic medallist, blasted to a world season leading 7.43 win, a near-personal best and considerably faster than his 7.51 performance that won him the title in 2001.
“The key was the start,” said Trammell, who last night sped to a bronze medal in the 60m, and is now the first double medallist at these championships. “So my focus was on the start. I got very close to gold a lot of times, so finally it came now.”
New Cuban sensation Dayron Robles, still a teenager, fought valiantly en route to his 7.46 runner-up finish, another personal best for the 2004 World Junior silver medallist who hadn’t raced indoors prior to this weekend. Nearly even approaching the final hurdle, the Cuban hit the final barrier throwing him slightly off balance, enough to give the more experienced Trammell the edge. With a perfectly-timed lean, Trammell gained the advantage at the most pivotal moment.
“It is my first experience indoors,” said Robles, who trains in Havana but is originally from near Guantanamo. “Not a bad one.”
In a photo finish for the final podium position, American Dominique Arnold bounced back from another off-kilter start to take the bronze barely edging Stanislavs Olijars and Jamaican Maurice Wignall. Each was credited with a 7.52 performance, for Olijars and Wignall, season’s best. Thomas Blaschek of Germany was sixth in 7.57, a personal best.
BR
