Sanya Richards-Ross looks on after her 400m semi-final (© Getty Images)
Daegu, Korea - Amantle Montsho, last in the final at the Berlin 2009 World Championships, and Berlin champion Sanya Richards-Ross took contrasting paths to Monday night’s final of the women’s 400 metres.
The last went to first. Just as in Saturday’s heats, Montsho ran fastest time of the round, taking the third semi-final in 50.13 seconds and looking more and more likely to win her country’s first medal at a World Championships.
Richards-Ross, on the other hand, went to last, reaching the final only as the slower of two non-automatic qualifiers from the semis. She, more than any other of the eight finalists, will be reassuring herself that tomorrow is another day.
Allyson Felix, attempting to win her first 400 gold medal to go with her three at 200, took the first of the three semis in 50.36. The fluid style as she came home ahead of Novlene Williams-Mills and Antonina Krivoshapka said she did it easy, sitting down straight afterwards might suggest otherwise.
Williams-Mills had to work hard to hold off 2009 bronze medallist Krivoshapka for the second automatic spot. As it turned out, however, the Russian athlete joined Richards-Ross in advancing as a non-automatic qualifier.
The boilover was in the second semi. Richards-Ross looked as if she had it under control as she cruised into the straight ahead of Shericka Williams, the silver medallist two years ago, and Francena McCorory.
Then the defending champion began to fade and a charging McCorory swept past both her and Williams to take the win in a personal best 50.24. Williams hung on to second, leaving Richards-Ross condemned to the nervous wait.
The tension went up a notch further when Ireland’s Joanne Cuddihy was disqualified for a false start at the first attempt to send the third semi-final off.
It remained high as Montsho, 2011 World leader Anastasiya Kapachinskaya and Rosemarie Whyte swept round the final bend together.
Montsho won in 50.13, Kapachinskaya took second in 50.41 and not until the final 20 metres did Whyte slip back to 50.90 and Richards-Ross was safe.
It was not the way Richards-Ross would have preferred to make the final, but she is there.
Len Johnson for the IAAF
