If you think making the U.S. sprint team is tough, try the men’s 110 meter hurdles. First, you have had, since 1995, Allan Johnson, who is the dean of American hurdles. Any man who can hurdle the highs at the age of 36 has my respect.
David Payne, Terrance Trammell, Aries Merritt, Dexter Faulk, David Oliver would have been on most lists. Oliver had injuries and did not run in Eugene.
But, in the final, Payne, Trammell, Merritt, Mitchum, all looked good. On Saturday, it was David Paynes’ race, as he hurdled a clean 13.12, the same as Terrance Trammell, who has a drawer full of World and Olympic medals. Payne won, 13.115 to 13.118, with Aries Merritt taking third in 13.15. Finally, Aries Merrit ran a race showing his real promise!
Finals of the Men’s 110 meter hurdles, by Photorun.net.
I first met David Payne grabbing some lunch with his coach at the Nike Hospitality in Osaka, Japan. David had literally just arrived from the U.S., a last minute substitute. His coach was just trying to get him into the swing of things, as the young man had to race the next day. Well, Payne totally impressed in the rounds and took the bronze. Not bad for his first world championships.
Terrance Trammell is a world medalist over the hurdles and indoor sprints. The guy is running well this year and can handle, better than most, being pushed or bumped around without loosing concentration. Trammell knows how to race.
Aries Merritt is a very talented hurdler, who shines ocassionally. Well, if there is a time to shine, Mr. Merritt, it is now. With the 13.15 race, and now some fine tuning in Europe, we should have a very strong team in Berlin in less than two months!
In the mixed zone, after the final, David Payne was eminently quotable: “My first couple races weren’t as good as they could have been, but this race worked out. I think it helped that I was in front of the people in the lanes next to me so that I could focus on my own race……This means that I am someone to be reckoned with, and now I don’t have to find out at the last minute whether or not I’m going to Berlin.
“I think I can definitely win in Berlin. The question before this meet was whether or not I could win here, and I did it. I thrive in competition and adversity.â€
Do not be surprised if the US takes two medals in Berlin, and do not be surprised if Mr. Payne improves on his bronze of 2007!
Men 110 Meter Hurdles
=====================================================================
World: W 12.87 6/12/2008 Dayron Robles, CUB
American: A 12.90 7/11/2006 Dominique Arnold, Nike
Hayward: S 13.06 2005 Liu Xiang, China
Name Year Team Finals Wind
=====================================================================
Finals
1 David Payne Nike 13.12 1.7 [13.115]
2 Terrence Trammell Track Star Apparel 13.12 1.7 [13.118]
3 Aries Merritt Reebok 13.15 1.7
4 Eric Mitchum adidas 13.24 1.7
5 Jason Richardson South Carolina 13.31 1.7
6 Jerome Miller Southwest Spr 13.41 1.7
7 Kirkland Thornton Nebraska 13.50 1.7
8 Dexter Faulk
