Track and field fans in Russia may have uncovered a genuine rival to the tennis teenage sensation Maria Sharapova, in the elegant form of the tall, blonde Ekaterina Kostetskaya who is also 16 years-old.
The young Russian, who was crowned European champion last year, simply blew her rivals away to win the final of the women’s 400m hurdles in 55.55, which is the fastest time in the world this year. Kostetskaya ran superbly, showing great pace judgement, running style and hurdling technique, as she built a huge lead over her rivals by the 300 metre point.
Coming into the straight with an advantage of close to 10 metres, Kostetskaya continued to work hard, as her rivals struggled to close the gap and befitting an athlete who has run 2:05.95 for 800m, the teenager finished strongly, and with a big smile on her face.
The battle for the minor medals was hard fought, with Zuzana Hejnova of the Czech Republic, who beat Kostetskaya for the World Youth title last year in Sherbrooke, holding off Jamaica’s Sherene Pinnock, to win silver in a new national junior record of 57.44, with Pinnock setting a personal best of 57.54 to grab bronze, just 2 100ths ahead of Nicole Leach, who had set the early pace but finished fourth in a personal best of 57.56.
