Lashinda Demus flies over a barrier in Monaco on her way to 52.63sec win (© Jiro Mochizuki (Agence Shot))
Things can change a lot in just one race. The women’s 400m Hurdles provides a great example of this.
Before the Herculis meet in Monaco, the possible winner in Berlin was completely open, but 26-year-old American Lashinda Demus made sure this changed when winning with in 52.63. Demus, the silver medallist in Helsinki in 2005, bettered her own personal best of 53.02 from 2006 by 0.39 seconds and moved up to fourth place all-time, just a scant 0.02 behind Kim Batten’s American record which has stood since the 1995 World championships in Gothenburg, and just 0.01 shy of Tonja Buford-Bailey’s silver medal time of 52.62 from that same meet.
In an event where there have been 11 different medallists out of the 12 major championships from 2004-2008, it seems new names could take medals again. Sure, Demus is the only pick for the gold now having run 1.32 seconds faster than Angela Morosanu (ROU) who is second in the world after her 53.95 personal best at the national championships in August. But for the other medals and even a top eight finish there is a very open competition coming up. The 23-year-old Morosanu takes the place of countrywoman Ionela Tirlea, who was the silver medallist at the 2004 Olympics and part of the 400m Hurdles scene for many years. Morosanu, like Tirlea, is also versatile having won bronze medals in both the 200m and flat 400m at the 2005 European championships and then the European U23 title in 400m hurdles in 2007.
Another newcomer to the world elite is 25-year-old Josanne Lucas (TRI) who has been on good 55-second level for years but has made progress to a 54.17s national record this season. Lucas competed in the 2005 World championships and 2008 Olympics, but didn’t advance from the first round in either. Now the Auburn graduate has good races under her belt in Europe finishing with a third place in the fast Monaco race in 54.21.
The reigning Olympic champion Melaine Walker (JAM) has been far off her 2008 form this summer, but did show signs of a possible change in this in Monaco. Leading the race after 250 metres she almost fell on the final curve still finishing strong with a 54.20 season’s best, and is capable of a much faster time in Berlin. Sheena Tosta (USA) took the silver medal in Beijing and will be looking for another medal here although her season’s best 54.19 came back in May.
A lot of hurdlers are also looking for their place in the final and maybe even medal showings. 2005 World Champion and 2007 silver medallist, the World record holder Yuliya Pechonkina, is among them. She has only run 54.86 this season but that doesn’t mean she won’t be in contention for a medal. Olympic fourth place finisher Anastasiya Rabchenyuk (UKR) and Anna Jesien (POL), who was fifth in Beijing, are also a bit off their 2008 results, but the event is one where personal and season’s bests fall in the major championships.
A couple of possible finalists are even further down the world list this season. Another athlete coming out of injury is Chinese Huang Xiaoxiao who has recorded two straight fifth place in World championships finals 2005 and 2007. Huang was injured in June 2008 and couldn’t compete in Beijing only returning to 400m hurdles in July 2009. The 26-year-old from Shandong set a season’s best 55.60 in the heats of national grand prix meet in Jinan winning the final in 55.66, her only competition before Berlin.
Mirko Jalava for the IAAF
Before the Herculis meet in Monaco, the possible winner in Berlin was completely open, but 26-year-old American Lashinda Demus made sure this changed when winning with in 52.63. Demus, the silver medallist in Helsinki in 2005, bettered her own personal best of 53.02 from 2006 by 0.39 seconds and moved up to fourth place all-time, just a scant 0.02 behind Kim Batten’s American record which has stood since the 1995 World championships in Gothenburg, and just 0.01 shy of Tonja Buford-Bailey’s silver medal time of 52.62 from that same meet.
In an event where there have been 11 different medallists out of the 12 major championships from 2004-2008, it seems new names could take medals again. Sure, Demus is the only pick for the gold now having run 1.32 seconds faster than Angela Morosanu (ROU) who is second in the world after her 53.95 personal best at the national championships in August. But for the other medals and even a top eight finish there is a very open competition coming up. The 23-year-old Morosanu takes the place of countrywoman Ionela Tirlea, who was the silver medallist at the 2004 Olympics and part of the 400m Hurdles scene for many years. Morosanu, like Tirlea, is also versatile having won bronze medals in both the 200m and flat 400m at the 2005 European championships and then the European U23 title in 400m hurdles in 2007.
Another newcomer to the world elite is 25-year-old Josanne Lucas (TRI) who has been on good 55-second level for years but has made progress to a 54.17s national record this season. Lucas competed in the 2005 World championships and 2008 Olympics, but didn’t advance from the first round in either. Now the Auburn graduate has good races under her belt in Europe finishing with a third place in the fast Monaco race in 54.21.
The reigning Olympic champion Melaine Walker (JAM) has been far off her 2008 form this summer, but did show signs of a possible change in this in Monaco. Leading the race after 250 metres she almost fell on the final curve still finishing strong with a 54.20 season’s best, and is capable of a much faster time in Berlin. Sheena Tosta (USA) took the silver medal in Beijing and will be looking for another medal here although her season’s best 54.19 came back in May.
A lot of hurdlers are also looking for their place in the final and maybe even medal showings. 2005 World Champion and 2007 silver medallist, the World record holder Yuliya Pechonkina, is among them. She has only run 54.86 this season but that doesn’t mean she won’t be in contention for a medal. Olympic fourth place finisher Anastasiya Rabchenyuk (UKR) and Anna Jesien (POL), who was fifth in Beijing, are also a bit off their 2008 results, but the event is one where personal and season’s bests fall in the major championships.
A couple of possible finalists are even further down the world list this season. Another athlete coming out of injury is Chinese Huang Xiaoxiao who has recorded two straight fifth place in World championships finals 2005 and 2007. Huang was injured in June 2008 and couldn’t compete in Beijing only returning to 400m hurdles in July 2009. The 26-year-old from Shandong set a season’s best 55.60 in the heats of national grand prix meet in Jinan winning the final in 55.66, her only competition before Berlin.
Mirko Jalava for the IAAF
