I thought much would be answered with the 400 meter semi finals. The most dangerous women, in my mind was Nicola Saunders, and while she ran 50.45, she was fourth in her heat and the three women before her broke 50 seconds. Saunders would not move on.
Sanya Richards, first round, women's 400 meters, WC Berlin 2009, photo by PhotoRun.net.
In the final heat, Sanya Richards went out very hard, then relaxed, then jogged, to a 50.21 with Christine Ohurogu in 50.35.
Sanya Richards has more to prove to herself here than anyone else. She is talented, well spoken and well coached. She has what it takes to win a global tital. Problem is,
she has to do it and make that move. We wish her luck.
My picks for the final: Sanya Richards, Novlene Williams-Mills, Christine Ohurogu. Time: 48.88.
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12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics
Berlin (GER) - Sunday, Aug 16, 2009
400 Metres - W Semi-Final
Qual. rule: first 2 of each heat (Q) plus the 2 fastest times (q) qualified.
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Heat 1
16 August 2009 - 19:40
Position Lane Bib Athlete Country Mark . React
1 5 534 Novlene Williams-Mills JAM 49.88 Q (SB) 0.226
2 4 159 Amantle Montsho BOT 49.89 Q (SB) 0.220
3 6 799 Anastasiya Kapachinskaya RUS 50.30 q . 0.247
4 8 479 Aliann Pompey GUY 50.71 (NR) 0.178
5 3 969 Jessica Beard USA 51.20 . 0.265
6 1 241 Norma González COL 51.91 . 0.193
7 2 1051 Kineke Alexander VIN 53.43 . 0.177
. 7 678 Amaka Ogoegbunam NGR DNF . 0.173
Heat 2
16 August 2009 - 19:47
Position Lane Bib Athlete Country Mark . React
1 4 535 Shericka Williams JAM 49.51 Q (PB) 0.208
2 5 806 Antonina Krivoshapka RUS 49.67 Q . 0.180
3 3 985 Debbie Dunn USA 49.95 q (PB) 0.189
4 6 390 Nicola Sanders GBR 50.45 (SB) 0.160
5 8 842 Amy Mbacke Thiam SEN 51.70 . 0.166
6 1 667 Folasade Abugan NGR 51.75 . 0.229
7 2 603 Joy Nakhumicha Sakari KEN 52.69 . 0.183
8 7 351 Solen Désert-Mariller FRA 53.26 . 0.221
Heat 3
16 August 2009 - 19:54
Position Lane Bib Athlete Country Mark . React
1 3 1022 Sanya Richards USA 50.21 Q . 0.192
2 4 393 Christine Ohuruogu GBR 50.35 Q (SB) 0.204
3 6 809 Lyudmila Litvinova RUS 50.52 . 0.206
4 5 506 Libania Grenot ITA 50.85 . 0.178
5 7 262 Indira Terrero CUB 51.87 . 0.273
6 8 426 Sorina Nwachukwu GER 51.98 . 0.210
7 1 846 Tiandra Ponteen SKN 53.22 . 0.162
8 2 523 Christine Day JAM 53.46 . 0.177
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