Norman and Miller-Uibo claim 400m crowns; Barber retains javelin title

Michael Norman (centre) of the US celebrates after winning the 400m final ahead of silver medallist Grenada’s Kirani James (right) and bronze medallist Great Britain’s Matthew Hudson-Smith at the World Athletics Championships. (AFP)

American Michael Norman made up for a disappointing fifth-placed finish at the Tokyo Olympics by winning the world 400m gold in Eugene yesterday. Norman, who failed to advance from the semi-finals in the Doha worlds in 2019 with a thigh injury, clocked a winning time of 44.29 seconds. Three-time Olympic medallist and 2011 world champion Kirani James of Grenada claimed silver with 44.68sec, while Briton Matthew Hudson-Smith took bronze (44.66). World record holder Wayde van Niekerk of South Africa, who set the record of 43.04sec when winning gold at the Rio Olympics in 2016, finished fifth in 44.97sec. A serious knee injury saw Van Niekerk take a three-year hiatus from the sport in the wake of Rio, his comeback itself tough due to the Covid-19 pandemic and paucity of meets he attended. Bahamian star Steven Gardiner, the reigning world and Olympic 400m champion, was a notable absentee from Eugene, missing the worlds because of an inflamed tendon. Earlier, two-time Olympic champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo of the Bahamas finally bagged world gold in the women’s 400m, signing off on the one-lap event to re-focus on her favoured 200m. Miller-Uibo, who was deprived of gold in Doha in 2019 by Salwa Eid Nasr of Bahrain – since banned from the Tokyo Games and these championships after three missed doping tests – timed a world lead of 49.11 seconds at Hayward Field. Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic claimed silver in 49.60sec, with Sada Williams of Barbados taking bronze in a national record of 48.75. Australian Kelsey-Lee Barber retained her javelin title, the current Olympic bronze medallist throwing a best of 66.91 metres. There was drama in the battle for silver and bronze, however, as American Kara Winger (64.05m) and Japan’s Haruka Kitaguchi (63.27) snatched the resepective medals with their sixth and final throws. Sweden’s Mondo Duplantis made first appearance at Hayward Field, easily qualifying for Sunday’s pole vault final. The US-born world record holder and Olympic champion, seeking to improve on his world silver from Doha, was faultless up to his 5.75m qualifying mark. Olympic champion and home favourite Athing Mu led US teammates Ajee Wilson and Raevyn Rogers into the final of the women’s 800m. Also making the final are Kenya’s Mary Moraa, Briton Keely Hodgkinson, Jamaica’s Natoya Goule, Ethiopian Diribe Welteji and Slovenia’s Anita Horvat. The United States safely negotiated the heats of the 4x100m relays. Christian Coleman, newly-crowned 200m champion Noah Lyles, Elijah Hall and Marvin Bracy breezed around in a world leading 37.87sec. The world champions in Doha, featuring Coleman and Lyles in that line-up, could only finish sixth in last year’s Tokyo Olympics. But the US team held a pre-worlds relay camp for the athletes to better hone their baton-exchanging skills. The final will also comprise France, Canada, South Africa, Jamaica, Brazil, Britain and Ghana. There was no place for Olympic champions Italy, missing Tokyo’s individual 100m champion Marcell Jacobs through injury. Melissa Jefferson, Aleia Hobbs, Jenna Prandini and Twanisha Terry got the baton around in 41.56sec for the US women. Also qualifying for final are Britain, reigning world champions Jamaica, Germany, Spain, Nigeria, Italy and Switzerland. Jamaica did not call on five-time world 100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, 200m champion Shericka Jackson and four-time Olympic individual medallist Elaine Thompson-Herah. US legend Allyson Felix defers retirement for world 4x400m relay US track legend Allyson Felix has deferred her retirement to run heats for the women’s 4x400m relay. “Allyson Felix will run the 4x4 prelims,” a US team official said. Felix had initially signed off her glittering career with a 19th world medal as she helped the US team to bronze in the 4x400m mixed relay in Hayward Field on the first day of action of the Worlds a week ago. It was thought that the bronze had brought the curtain down on a stellar career that saw Felix make her world championship debut back in Paris in 2003 at the age of 17. Her first major championship medal came when she won 200m silver at the 2004 Athens Olympics, the start of an unprecedented glut of medals in the 200m, 400m and as a member of the often dominant US relay team. Her overall world tally currently stands at 19 medals (13 gold, three silver, three bronze), including four individual golds. But there could be another one, should she take part in the 4x400m relays, heats of which are scheduled for Saturday, with the final on Sunday. Among Felix’s staggering medal haul are three Olympic and five world golds as part of US 4x400m winning teams.