Kaliese Spencer and Kirani James dominate track in London – Athletics news
Among a number of records marked in various disciplines at the Aviva London Grand Prix, two world leads were observed in the 400m women’s hurdling competition and in men’s 400m contest. In the former battle, it was 24-year-old Jamaican girl, Kaliese Spencer,
who clocked an impressive 52.79 seconds finish, while in the later grapple for the title, the 18-year old Kirani James, also the world junior champion, ended his effort in 44.61 seconds.
The performance displayed by Spencer was the depiction of a focused and aggressive run as right from the gun, the girl was not only determined to outdo her rivals, but was also resolved to bag the event title with prominence. As the race kicked-off, the
Jamaican did not take long before claiming her lead, and after pulling herself away right after the second hurdle, she denied succumbing against the rest of the lot until the finishing line was crossed.
Among the most prominent competitors on the track, the silver medal winner of the 2009 IAAF World Athletics final had to face Zuzana Hejnova from Czech Republic, who had defeated her in a Samsung Diamond League competition in Paris, where she emerged for
clocking a then world leading 53.29 seconds finish.
The run in London was perhaps among the worst meets for Hejnova, as leave alone the top position on the podium, she could not settle for even a second or third position in the contest. Just like the top finish, the second finish of the competition was also
claimed by a Jamaican runner, Melaine Walker, who also happens to be a world and Olympic champion. She observed a finish of 53.90 seconds.
Perri Shakes-Drayton, the girl who dominated both 400m run and 400m hurdling competitions at the Aviva Championships Trials, hit the finishing line in 54.62 seconds for claiming third position in the event. For stopping the clock in 54.74 seconds, Hejnova
was pushed down to fourth position in the event.
Celebrating her success, Spencer, who was content with the performance she displayed in the Grand Prix, said, “I came here to get a PB (personal best), and I did just that. I am absolutely delighted. I run great 400s, and my coach told me to run it like
I run the 400, so I did that. In Daegu I know I can do better than I have before. I think I’ll be in great shape.”
In the men’s 400m competition, the sprinter from Grenada marked a finish which only added to his already increasing reputation on the track. For bagging the title in the Aviva Grand Prix, he successfully overcame rivals like Jamaica’s Jermaine Gonzales (44.85
seconds) and Bahamas’ Christopher Brown (45.04 seconds). The fourth place in the competition was claimed by American runner, Angelo Taylor.
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