by Larry EderThe 400 meter intermediate hurdles was the creation of a depraved individual, or someone who was into opera. The results are always dramatic as, when fine athletes are met with the combined hells of 400 meters all out and ten hurdles added to said situation, certian things happen. One, there is the feeling that, as one gets to hurdles 8, 9 and 10, there is a subtle increase in height, and a definite increase in the energy needed to clear said barriers. While this suggestion of increased height is all merely a scene from a William S. Burroughs’ novel, the damage is done.
The exceptional 400 meter hurlder knows that the race is won in those last grueling two hurdles, where one calls on more than heart, endurance and focus. One calls on that inner strength, and all those hours spent running over hurdles and sprinting all out.
Such was the case of the women’s 400 meter hurdles in London. Kori Carter, a young woman who has been on the cusp for three years, finally, called off her inner demons and enjoined them in the cause. That cause? To take her over that final barrier in a minute lead, and to run from Delilah Muhammad, the world leader in the event.
Carter won her gold. Muhammed won her silver and Ristianna Tracey, the young Jamaican star, took the bronze. Veteran medalist Zuzana Hejnova took fourth.
Watch this presser. Nice to see a former Stanford athlete run to her promise. Now that the devil is off her back, lets see how fast Kori Carter can run. Watch for her to fly in 2018.
