Coming back from two challenging years, Sanya Richards-Ross is starting off 2012 with style. The US had never had two women medal in the World Indoors 400 meters before- a big congrats to Natasha Hastings as well!
Sanya Richards-Ross, 2012 USA Indoors, photo by PhotoRun.net
Sanya Richard-Ross took the lead, and did not stop. Getting a great start, from outside, Richards-Ross cut to the line perfectly, hitting 200 meters in 23.77, and not looking back. Extending her lead over the last 100 meters, Sanya Richards-Ross won the gold medal in 50.79. The battle for silver was close, as Natasha Hastings had a better cut in and looked good until 300 meters, when Alexsandra Fedoriva of Russia went by and kept her position, taking the silver in 51.76 to Hastings 51.82!
Here is what Sanya had to say after her world championship performance:
“I’m
really happy with this. This is my first World Indoor title. Running
two rounds (Friday) took a little out of my legs. I wanted to get the
American record, but more importantly I wanted to win gold. I wanted to
go out strong and still be able to bring it home. I’m definitely excited
for London. I’m healthy. This is my first time competing indoors in six
years and I feel good.”
Natasha Hastings, 2012 US Indoor Champs, photo by PhotoRun.netAnd Natasha, who went into this race wanting to win, said the following:
“I
had the goal win. Now my focus is on the summer. It’s great to know I
am able to compete. I think this means for will need to look out for
Team USA this summer in London.”
For more on the 400 meters, please see World Indoors 2012 Day 2
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Larry Eder has had a 50-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself."
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