Women’s 400m semi finals
After dominating their heats yesterday, USA’s quarter milers continued to impress in today’s semi finals.
The first race was dominated from start to finish by junior champion Sanya Richards in 52.69. The fastest 400m in the world this year, Richards entered the home straight five metres clear of Russia’s Tatyana Popova and then just jogged to the finish. Popova eventually finished second in a new personal best of 52.94.
The two other runners to advance to the final were Great Britain’s Lisa Miller (53.28) and Nigeria’s Oluyemi Fagbamilla (53.30). Finishing fifth in this heat, Kazhakh Olga Tereshova established a junior national record of 53.76.
A member of the Sydney Olympics 4x400m US squad, Monique Henderson won heat two in 52.31. Running in lane six, Henderson powered out of the starting blocks and had caught the two runners in front of her after 150 metres of the race. Jamaica’s Sheryl Morgan was the only one who managed to stay close to Henderson and despite cutting her effort with 50 metres to go clocked 53.20. Ireland’s Joanne Cuddihy (53.77) and Russia’s Mariya Dryakhlova (53.80) advanced to the final finishing third and fourth but their times were slower than the sixth place finisher of heat one.
