Sheena Tosta and LaShinda Demus race around the Hayward Field track....
Photo by Photorun.net
LaShinda Demus has been one of our most talented intermediate hurdlers for years. As a junior, she dazzled the world. Now, as a mother of two, LaShinda blasted a 53.78 world leader (and new Hayward field best mark, breaking a sixteen year old record), taking first, after having a heartbreaking race in 2008. LaShinda was pretty straight forward on this years run: “It feels a lot better than not making the team. It feels good and I am ready to represent the US in Berlin.” Sheena Tosta took second in 54.45, noting: “I feel good about it. I’ve been struggling with the wind all week, so today I got my stride together and the time was good. I’m happy with it...Our team has the top two times in the world right now, so I like our chances.” Tiffany Williams, the 2008 Trials winner, took third today in 55.64.
Our chances for a medal in Berlin? Demus could run sub 52 seconds on her best day, and Sheena Tosta is a global veteran. Tiffany Williams, if she runs her race, could be in the medal contention as well. This event could be sleeper for us, yes, I am thinking of 1995, where the US went 1-2 and broke the world record. Our athletes are that good. The trouble is, they have got to believe it.
Women 400 Meter Hurdles
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World: W 52.34 8/8/2004 Yuliya Pechenkina, RUS
American: A 52.61 8/11/1995 Kim Batten, Reebok
Hayward: S 53.96 1993 Sandra Farmer-Patrick, USA
Name Year Team Finals
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Finals
1 Lashinda Demus Nike 53.78S
2 Sheena Tosta Nike 54.45
3 Tiffany Williams Reebok 55.18
4 Ebony Collins unattached 55.64
5 Nicole Leach U C L A 55.72
6 Deserea Brown Illinois 57.33
7 Latosha Wallace Asics 57.47
8 Jennifer Grossarth unattached 57.61
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