A 400m hurdler in action (© Getty Images)
With just six hurdlers having run faster than 52 seconds, and none having dipped under 51, it’s been a modest year in this event and Cali provides the perfect opportunity for someone to break out from the pack.
That somebody could be Rivaldo Leacock of Barbados, the 16-year-old who took the Carifta Games title in 51.34, the season’s fastest performance. More recently, he also finished second at the national senior championships.
His primary challenger is the USA’s 17-year-old Norman Grimes, who finished second at the national junior championships over the 91cm barriers in 50.59 before winning the youth title over the lower 84cm barriers in 51.67 just four days later.
Grimes will be busy in Cali as he is also down to contest the 110m hurdles.
Others to look for include South Africans Morne van As (51.49 at altitude) and Gianni Lombaard (51.76), Spain’s Aleix Porras (51.75), and Croatia’s Hrvoje Cukman (51.83).
Bob Ramsak for the IAAF
