After the surprises over one lap the day before in the women’s 400m and men’s hurdles, the shocks continued with Kori Carter winning the 400m hurdles easily.
Only third in the US Championships, she had never previously broken 54 seconds outside the USA, but here she won in 53.07.
Drawn in lane nine, the former football player started quickly but she was clearly behind Olympic champion and favourite Dalilah Muhammad.
The US champion did not have a great bend, however, and it was Carter who narrowly edged ahead. Many expected her to fade in the straight but she actually moved away and won by a clear four metres.
Carter, who has a 12.76 100m hurdles PB and was second in the World Youth Championships in 2009, said: “I am on top of the world right now. What a blessing to be world champion. This is just an incredible feeling like I have never experienced.”
Muhammad admitted she was not in the same shape as last year.
![Kori Carter [400m-hurdles-London-2017] - PHOTO by Mark Shearman](https://www.sports24ghana.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Kori-Carter-400m-hurdles-London-2017-PHOTO-by-Mark-Shearman.jpg)
“I always go out to win, but I’m just happy to even get on the podium – it’s been a shaky year. I’ve enjoyed competing here, the fan support has been amazing.”
The other shock in the race came from double world champion Zuzana Hejnova. After impressing in the heats, she faded in the straight and was gobbled up by fast-finishing Ristananna Tracey. Jamaica haven’t had their usual highs in London, but this bronze medal was one and Tracey set a PB of 53.74.
Hejnova was a clear fourth in 54.20, while Switzerland’s Lea Sprunger had the best race of her life to finish fifth in 54.59.
Canada’s Sage Watson took sixth in 54.92 and Cassandra Tate was seventh.
GB team captain Eilidh Doyle, who continued her feat of making major finals, never really got into the race.
Drawn in the inside lane after only going through as a fastest loser, she was last in 55.71.
Source: Steve Smythe| AW
