Kerron Clement of the USA clocks 47.91 to win the 400m Hurdles (© Getty Images)
Berlin, GermanyDefending World champion Kerron Clement admitted his Olympic silver medal in Beijing last year “tickled and excited” him to get back and run his best race in over a year to retain his 400m Hurdles title in 47.91, the fastest time in the world this year, on an electrifying night at the Olympic stadium here in Berlin.
Clement had looked the strongest through the rounds winning his heat and semi-final clocking the best times in the field on both occasions and as he lined up for tonight’s decisive race he was a man with a mission.
“The race plan was to go out quick and run 13 strides all the way to the finish,” he explained. “I knew that if I was in the lead with 150m to go no one would be able to get me.”
The 23-year-old Los Angeles based hurdler had also time to smile before crossing the line celebrating his second consecutive World Championships gold, a feat also achieved in the history of the event by the legendary Edwin Moses in 1983 and 1987 and Felix Sanchez in 01 and 03.
In fact, Clement held a 0.18 lead on 25-year-old Javier Culson of Puerto Rico, the revelation of the year in the event, who made history by not only becoming the first finalist of his country in the history of the event but also the first medallist with his silver winning national record 48.09.
But even he could not gatecrash Clement’s mission.
Since he finished fourth running out of lane 1 at the Helsinki World Championships aged 19, Clement has been rising on the ladder of all-time bests in his event and his winning performance here in Berlin has placed him one step higher.
A World Junior champion in 2004, Clement also broke Michael Johnson’s World Indoor 400m record back in 2005 and has since been arguably the best athlete combining 400 and 400m Hurdles with team-mate Angelo Taylor whose pre-champs injury meant he did not manage to advance past the opening round.
Earned Kersee’s complete confidence
As the defending champion, Clement did not need to secure his qualification at the US Trials and opted to compete in the flat one lap event in Eugene where he finished third. Although qualified by right, Clement decided against doubling here in Berlin although his pre-championships competitive schedule included a few flat races.
“That was to work on speed,” he confirmed. “I planned to defend my title. I felt really consistent going through the rounds and I kept dropping my times. That boosted my confidence.
“It’s such a relief not to have to run the trials because the US Trials are nerve wrecking for any event. Of course there is always pressure for the defending champion but I just kept my nerve and remained focus.”
One to help Clement on his way to the top is coach Bobby Kersee who transformed Clement’s race pattern to what we were lucky enough to witness in tonight’s final.
“Bobby is back at the hotel now,” Clement explained after his race. “In warm up he told me ‘go out there and do your thing’ and then he went straight back to the hotel. That’s how confident he was!
“I will definitely be in the 4x400 so I really hope I will go home with two gold medals.
‘This year means more to me’
Asked on how his two World championships title compare Clement declared: “in 07 I messed my steps over three hurdles, tonight was a clean race with 13 steps all the way round. That’s pretty much what’s different.
“In 07 I had more ups and downs. This year means more to me, I was stronger.
“The silver medal at the Olympic Games gave me extra motivation to come here and get this gold. It tickled and excited me to come and defend my title.
There was also mention of breaking the World record to which Clement smiled: “The record is a tough one. It’s very old. To break that record? I need strength, endurance, courage, heart, I need everything!”
And before leaving the Olympic stadium with yet another gold medal one reporter, obviously already thinking ahead at what Clement could achieve once the Daegu World Championships come along, a chance at becoming the first man ever to win 3 World 400m Hurdles World titles, he shouts: “hey Kerron, you won’t have to run Trials again!
“Oh yeah that is great, hadn’t thought about that. So maybe I can run the 100 and the 200 at Trials in 2011!”
Laura Arcoleo for the IAAF
Clement had looked the strongest through the rounds winning his heat and semi-final clocking the best times in the field on both occasions and as he lined up for tonight’s decisive race he was a man with a mission.
“The race plan was to go out quick and run 13 strides all the way to the finish,” he explained. “I knew that if I was in the lead with 150m to go no one would be able to get me.”
The 23-year-old Los Angeles based hurdler had also time to smile before crossing the line celebrating his second consecutive World Championships gold, a feat also achieved in the history of the event by the legendary Edwin Moses in 1983 and 1987 and Felix Sanchez in 01 and 03.
In fact, Clement held a 0.18 lead on 25-year-old Javier Culson of Puerto Rico, the revelation of the year in the event, who made history by not only becoming the first finalist of his country in the history of the event but also the first medallist with his silver winning national record 48.09.
But even he could not gatecrash Clement’s mission.
Since he finished fourth running out of lane 1 at the Helsinki World Championships aged 19, Clement has been rising on the ladder of all-time bests in his event and his winning performance here in Berlin has placed him one step higher.
A World Junior champion in 2004, Clement also broke Michael Johnson’s World Indoor 400m record back in 2005 and has since been arguably the best athlete combining 400 and 400m Hurdles with team-mate Angelo Taylor whose pre-champs injury meant he did not manage to advance past the opening round.
Earned Kersee’s complete confidence
As the defending champion, Clement did not need to secure his qualification at the US Trials and opted to compete in the flat one lap event in Eugene where he finished third. Although qualified by right, Clement decided against doubling here in Berlin although his pre-championships competitive schedule included a few flat races.
“That was to work on speed,” he confirmed. “I planned to defend my title. I felt really consistent going through the rounds and I kept dropping my times. That boosted my confidence.
“It’s such a relief not to have to run the trials because the US Trials are nerve wrecking for any event. Of course there is always pressure for the defending champion but I just kept my nerve and remained focus.”
One to help Clement on his way to the top is coach Bobby Kersee who transformed Clement’s race pattern to what we were lucky enough to witness in tonight’s final.
“Bobby is back at the hotel now,” Clement explained after his race. “In warm up he told me ‘go out there and do your thing’ and then he went straight back to the hotel. That’s how confident he was!
“I will definitely be in the 4x400 so I really hope I will go home with two gold medals.
‘This year means more to me’
Asked on how his two World championships title compare Clement declared: “in 07 I messed my steps over three hurdles, tonight was a clean race with 13 steps all the way round. That’s pretty much what’s different.
“In 07 I had more ups and downs. This year means more to me, I was stronger.
“The silver medal at the Olympic Games gave me extra motivation to come here and get this gold. It tickled and excited me to come and defend my title.
There was also mention of breaking the World record to which Clement smiled: “The record is a tough one. It’s very old. To break that record? I need strength, endurance, courage, heart, I need everything!”
And before leaving the Olympic stadium with yet another gold medal one reporter, obviously already thinking ahead at what Clement could achieve once the Daegu World Championships come along, a chance at becoming the first man ever to win 3 World 400m Hurdles World titles, he shouts: “hey Kerron, you won’t have to run Trials again!
“Oh yeah that is great, hadn’t thought about that. So maybe I can run the 100 and the 200 at Trials in 2011!”
Laura Arcoleo for the IAAF
