by Larry Eder
Debbie Dunn, World Indoor Champs 2010, Doha, Qatar, photo by PhotoRun.net.
The U.S. won two medals in the men’s heptathlon. Then, Debbie Dunn, who recently set a personal best in Albuquerque, won the US title, now battles down the final stretch to win the WIC women’s 400 meters in 51.04, holding off Russia’s Tatyana Firova!
Indoor track and field is tough, and not for the tender footed. In a 400 meter run that resembled a roller derby contest, Debbie Dunn of the US hit the 200 meters in 23.88, and nearly fell as Novlene Williams-Mills, tripped and went down, not to finish.
Dunn kept running, dogged by Tatyana Firova of Russia, Vania Stambolova of Bulgaria with Amantle Montsho of Botswana trailing.
Dunn came onto the final stretch and gutted it out, winning in 51.04. Tatyana Firova of Russia made a game run, taking second in 51.13, with Vania Stambolova of Bulgaria taking the bronze in 51.50.
Afterwards, Debbie said it best,” The main focus was to get out there, be aggressive, make the break and take it out. I have more speed that the others in the field, so it was a matter of go and take it out. I was expecting to get a little bit faster but that was a crazy race! I almost fell. I got tripped, don’t know what happened.”
Debbie has had a superb season: her nationals win was gutty and the way to run a final! Her win here was tough, and in the world of athletics, as Bryan Clay said so well, there are ” champions and near-champions.” Debbie Dunn was a champion tonight!
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