Melaine Walker takes an easy victory in the 400m hurdles (© Getty Images)
Olympic champion Melanie Walker reconfirmed once more her pre-eminent status in this event this year collecting a $30,000 pay cheque for the win in Stuttgart. The women’s 400m Hurdles has only been about the 25-year-old Jamaican in 2008.
Coming into the year with 54.14 sec PB (2007), Walker who didn’t make it out of the semi-finals stage of the 2007 World Championships in Osaka, has been at the top of the pile ever since her last loss on 15 February in Sydney, Australia, which was her opening competition of the year when winter training in the southern hemisphere.
Eleven competitions later (13 including heats) and Walker had a unblemished racing record this year coming into today’s World Athletics Final, and she put on an assured, controlled performance. Conservative from the gun, her second 200m subjugated the opposition without mercy, and took her across the line in 54.06.
Her nearest opponent today was Ukraine’s Anastasiya Rabchenyuk (54.92), with USA’s Tiffany Williams, third (55.16).
Challenged strongly by Natasha Danvers, the Olympic bronze medallist, in Rieti a week ago, the Briton’s attempt to take on Walker today crumbled at the second hurdle when the skirt clad Danvers hit the barrier and fell to the track. Moments later she was back on her feet and in a brave comeback nearly managed to take seventh position by the line just headed by Christine Spence of the USA, 58.15 to 58.40.
Olympic silver medallist Sheena Tosta of the USA also didn’t fare too well either, finishing well down in fifth (55.33).
Chris Turner for the IAAF
Coming into the year with 54.14 sec PB (2007), Walker who didn’t make it out of the semi-finals stage of the 2007 World Championships in Osaka, has been at the top of the pile ever since her last loss on 15 February in Sydney, Australia, which was her opening competition of the year when winter training in the southern hemisphere.
Eleven competitions later (13 including heats) and Walker had a unblemished racing record this year coming into today’s World Athletics Final, and she put on an assured, controlled performance. Conservative from the gun, her second 200m subjugated the opposition without mercy, and took her across the line in 54.06.
Her nearest opponent today was Ukraine’s Anastasiya Rabchenyuk (54.92), with USA’s Tiffany Williams, third (55.16).
Challenged strongly by Natasha Danvers, the Olympic bronze medallist, in Rieti a week ago, the Briton’s attempt to take on Walker today crumbled at the second hurdle when the skirt clad Danvers hit the barrier and fell to the track. Moments later she was back on her feet and in a brave comeback nearly managed to take seventh position by the line just headed by Christine Spence of the USA, 58.15 to 58.40.
Olympic silver medallist Sheena Tosta of the USA also didn’t fare too well either, finishing well down in fifth (55.33).
Chris Turner for the IAAF