Williams blazes 12.32, Warholm improves to 47.12 in London
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Sizzling hurdles performances by Danielle Williams and Karsten Warholm highlighted the first day of action at the Muller Anniversary Games in London Stadium on Saturday (20).
In the 100m hurdles, Williams, the 2015 world champion, was on fire from the outset en route to a sensational 12.32 performance to cap what was by far the finest day of the 26-year-old’s career.
Arriving in the British capital with a 12.48 lifetime best, she dispensed with that in the heats 55 minutes earlier where she clocked 12.41 after coasting through the finish. Her winning time in the final elevated Williams to No. 7 on the all-time list while supplanting Janeek Brown as Jamaican record holder.
“It has been coming all season and it was just about when,” said Williams, who shattered Brown’s six-week-old 12.40 national record. “This track is a fast track and the fact that we get two opportunities because of the heats, you can fix what you did wrong and get ready for the final.”
Nia Ali of the US was a distant second in 12.57 ahead of compatriot Queen Claye who clocked 12.64 in third.
Another European record for Warholm
Twelve minutes earlier, Warholm blitzed to a world-leading 47.12 in the 400m hurdles to shatter the European record for the second time in as many races to also move to, like Williams, to the No 7 spot all-time.
The contest wasn’t a scoring event for Diamond League points, but his chief rivals will nonetheless take note of the Norwegian’s latest exploit, this time coming on the same track where he clawed his way to the 2017 world title.
With a clear lead as he approached the first hurdle, Warholm forged on, producing the relentless early race attack that has become his trademark. But this time, as he scorched off the final turn, a solitary figure, he didn’t notably slow. The toll of his early pace did finally begin to show as Warholm reached hard to maintain his rhythm as he approached the ninth barrier and then stutter slightly as he approached the tenth. But he nonetheless managed to clip a massive 0.21 from the European record he set in Oslo five weeks ago.
“I always try to surprise but at the same time it’s not a given,” said Warholm, who won b nearly two seconds. “It takes hard work, dedication and a lot for me to get out those extraordinary times.”
Yasmani Copello of Turkey was a distant second in 48.93, with USA’s Amere Lattin third in 49.18.
Source: IAAF
