By the way, another Jamaican became an Olympic champion.
Melaine Walker powered her way to victory in the 400-meter hurdles, the final event on the track Wednesday night with the Bird’s Nest still buzzing in the afterglow of her countryman Usain Bolt’s dazzling world-record 200.
Walker won in an Olympic record and personal best 52.64 seconds, well ahead of American Sheena Tosta, who took the silver at 53.70. Britain’s Tasha Danvers won the bronze at 53.84.
Walker broke the Olympic record of 52.82 set by fellow Jamaican Deon Hemmings in 1996.
The hurdles final was wide open with world record-holder Yulia Pechonkina of Russia skipping the Olympics because of a heart problem and two-time world champion Jana Rawlinson of Australia out with an injury. Reigning Olympic champion Fani Halkia of Greece was expelled last week after a positive drug test.
Walker made it a one-woman race, going out strong, then turning it on down the stretch as Tosta struggled to the finish.
After barely surviving the qualifying round, Tosta got stronger in the semifinals and was even better in the final.
Walker said she started running at age 3 or 4. She blossomed early in Jamaica’s highly successful track and field development program.
Reference:www.sterlingtiffany.com
