 Facing the final hurdle
(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-08-20 08:31
Following the loss of world champion Jana Pittman and world record holder Yuliya Pechonkina to injury, and defending champion Fani Halkia suspended for doping, Sheena Tosta qualified fastest for what is an open women's 400m hurdles final tonight. The US athlete registered a time of 54.07 seconds to qualify ahead of Jamaica favorite Melaine Walker for the grand finale at the National Stadium. Tosta had vacillated between sprints and the intermediate hurdles before the Athens Games, where she had hoped to contest the 100m hurdles but ended up in the longer event after winning the US trials in the ultimate leg burner. It turned out a lucky break for the then 21-year-old who, competing under her maiden name Johnson, finished a superb fourth in Athens. The same year Johnson became the youngest woman ever to be clocked under 53 seconds in the 400m hurdles. Four years on and now Tosta looks set to improve on that result. "I focused on my stride pattern a lot, which is what I messed up on the first time," Tosta told the International Association of Athletic Federations after her semi. "It was a really good race, I'm quite satisfied with the outcome. Now I'm in the final, and today is a good link to the final." Jamaican Walker is also in blistering form after registering 54.20 to qualify second, and is champing to continue her country's Games success. "I feel really good," Walker told a US newspaper. "Actually I was not thinking about coming around in 54 seconds, I just wanted a win. It turned out to be a fast time and it means I am in shape, and if I go out there with my mind made up I have to come out with gold." Britain's Tasha Danvers qualified third fastest followed by Poland's Anna Jesien. The Polish record holder looked extremely convincing in 55.35, and is likely to finish among the honors. The US' Tiffany Ross-Williams has also qualified for the final but was disappointed with her showing in the semi: "Maybe I should have taken the first 200 harder. I should talk to my coach and he will tell me what to do for the final. I need to have confidence to show heart and to keep doing what I have been doing all the year." European Under-23 champion Irina Obedina of Russia looked as relaxed as one can be on the Olympic stage but just missed out on the final, as did Japan's Satomi Kubokura, who lowered her season's best to 56.69. Agencies (China Daily 08/20/2008 page20) |
