Bolt was grinning widely after crossing in 19.95 seconds, coasting for about 60 meters and checking the stadium screens high up in the stands to see if someone could come close.
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The American hot favourite LaShawn Merritt came out with his personal best of 43.65 seconds but that was not good enough to beat the incredible performance of Niekerk, who had been eliminated from the heats itself at the last World Championships in Moscow 2013, finishing fifth in his heat five with a timing of only 46.37.
Second-place Merritt pretty aptly summed up the demands of the 400m after the race. Yego’s throw of 92.72 meters was the longest in 14 years and gave Kenya its first victory in a field event at worlds or the Olympics.
The 16-year-old Yemeni ran 12 1/2 laps on the synthetic track without shoes and recorded a personal best time of 16 minutes, 2.55 seconds.
Shamier Little celebrates winning silver in the women’s 400-meter hurdles at the 15th IAAF World Championships on August 26, 2015 in Beijing.
Hailing from a nation much better known for distance running, Yego famously taught himself the techniques of the event by watching the likes of Zelezny on YouTube.
Meanwhile, a few more U.S. medal hopefuls walked away empty-handed.
Two of those came in the men’s javelin and women’s 3,000 metres steeplechase where Kenyans Julius Yego and Hyvin Jepkemoi added another two gold medals to the East African powerhouse’s already considerable haul. The Olympic gold medalist, Suhr had waited until 4.60m/15-1 to enter the competition, clearing on her first attempt and doing the same at 4.70. “It looks like people are exhausted”.
He has been the fourth fastest 400m runner ever, but has now been relegated three places, with Van Niekerk now the fourth fastest ever behind three Americans.
Usain Bolt and Justin Gatlin will renew hostilities in the 200m final after winning their respective semi-finals, the latter slightly quicker in the second in 19.87secs while Bolt clocked 19.95s.
“It’s the third time I’ve been in a semifinal with him (at the worlds)”, Jobodwana said when asked about the scene. Merritt now matches Hall of Famer Carl Lewis with his 10 WCs medals.
To open Thursday evening’s festivities, van Niekerk will step to the top of the podium to receive his gold medal.
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“It’s what the sport is all about”, Merritt said.
