Kerron Clement of USA in action in the 400m Hurdles heats (© Bongarts/Getty Images)
This is the USA’s title to lose. The USA has won the past three global titles, and all three of those winners will be present in Berlin, vying for the top spot. But there are question marks hanging over the heads of each of the leading American contenders.
Defending champion Kerron Clement won just one race in 2007 – the World championships final in Osaka. So having won four big races on the circuit this year, Clement is already in a better position heading into the World championships than he was two years ago. But will his timing problems in the final straight cost him?
Two-time Olympic champion Angelo Taylor is just as much of a big-meet performer as Clement. Before Beijing last year, Taylor finished third at the US trials and had a season’s best of 48.42, but he turned that around and produced a stunning run of 47.25 to strike gold. Similarly, this year he also finished third at the US trials and has a current season’s best of 48.30. Can Taylor turn on the magic once more to win his first World championships title?
Bershawn Jackson won the World title in 2005. He has continued to be a force on the world scene and has finished in the top two of all of his races this year. In Monaco last month, he dipped under 48 seconds for the first time in three years and looks to be timing his peak right. He thrived in the wet conditions of Helsinki four years ago – will the European climate work in his favour again to regain the World title?
Rounding out the four-man USA team is young gun Johnny Dutch. The World junior silver medallist booked his place on the team when finishing second at the US Trials with a PB of 48.18. However, Berlin will be his first ever senior championships and it comes at the end of a long collegiate season. Will he be overawed by the occasion, or can Dutch surprise everyone?
There is a likelihood, however, that an American might not even win gold. South Africa’s LJ van Zyl is a former World junior champion, and is yet to translate that success to the senior stage, but after a victory in Monaco in which he broke his PB with his first sub-48-second clocking and a world-leading time of 47.94, his chances are looking significantly better.
Jamaica’s Isa Phillips has improved significantly to 48.05 this year and has notched up some big victories on the circuit. Team-mate Danny McFarlane is just as strong a challenger. The 37-year-old has a habit of making championship finals and recently clocked his third-fastest ever time of 48.13. Another athlete to keep an eye on is Puerto Rico’s Javier Culson. The 25-year-old has been running consistently under 49 seconds this year and set a national record of 48.29 in Monaco.
And another athlete never to be discounted is two-time World champion and former Olympic champion Felix Sanchez. He entered the last World championships off the back of a long-term injury looking like a spent force with a season’s best of just 48.86. But he improved in each of the rounds in Osaka and secured the silver medal with a time of 48.01.
But the biggest question remains – can the USA hold on to the world 400m hurdles title?
Jon Mulkeen for the IAAF
Defending champion Kerron Clement won just one race in 2007 – the World championships final in Osaka. So having won four big races on the circuit this year, Clement is already in a better position heading into the World championships than he was two years ago. But will his timing problems in the final straight cost him?
Two-time Olympic champion Angelo Taylor is just as much of a big-meet performer as Clement. Before Beijing last year, Taylor finished third at the US trials and had a season’s best of 48.42, but he turned that around and produced a stunning run of 47.25 to strike gold. Similarly, this year he also finished third at the US trials and has a current season’s best of 48.30. Can Taylor turn on the magic once more to win his first World championships title?
Bershawn Jackson won the World title in 2005. He has continued to be a force on the world scene and has finished in the top two of all of his races this year. In Monaco last month, he dipped under 48 seconds for the first time in three years and looks to be timing his peak right. He thrived in the wet conditions of Helsinki four years ago – will the European climate work in his favour again to regain the World title?
Rounding out the four-man USA team is young gun Johnny Dutch. The World junior silver medallist booked his place on the team when finishing second at the US Trials with a PB of 48.18. However, Berlin will be his first ever senior championships and it comes at the end of a long collegiate season. Will he be overawed by the occasion, or can Dutch surprise everyone?
There is a likelihood, however, that an American might not even win gold. South Africa’s LJ van Zyl is a former World junior champion, and is yet to translate that success to the senior stage, but after a victory in Monaco in which he broke his PB with his first sub-48-second clocking and a world-leading time of 47.94, his chances are looking significantly better.
Jamaica’s Isa Phillips has improved significantly to 48.05 this year and has notched up some big victories on the circuit. Team-mate Danny McFarlane is just as strong a challenger. The 37-year-old has a habit of making championship finals and recently clocked his third-fastest ever time of 48.13. Another athlete to keep an eye on is Puerto Rico’s Javier Culson. The 25-year-old has been running consistently under 49 seconds this year and set a national record of 48.29 in Monaco.
And another athlete never to be discounted is two-time World champion and former Olympic champion Felix Sanchez. He entered the last World championships off the back of a long-term injury looking like a spent force with a season’s best of just 48.86. But he improved in each of the rounds in Osaka and secured the silver medal with a time of 48.01.
But the biggest question remains – can the USA hold on to the world 400m hurdles title?
Jon Mulkeen for the IAAF
