by Stuart Weir
Nia Ali, photo by LF Photography
Christina Clemons, photo by LF Photography
As Stuart Weir has noted, the 60m hurdle wars have been quite close in the 2020 indoor season. This piece, focuses on WIT Lieven, but also provides a backdrop as we build to Tokyo 2020.
World Athletics Indoor Series: Women’s Hurdles
World Athletics Indoor Series: Women’s Hurdles
There is something about the women’s sprint hurdles which produces drama and excitement. Remember the 2018 Indoor Series where Sharika Nelvis and Christina Manning went head to head with Manning shading it on the last race?
Nia Ali flying over the 60m hurdles, Lieven, photo by LF PHotography
This year’s series produced the same amount of drama, particularly between Nia Ali and Christina (now Mrs) Clemons. Both have previous as indoor hurdlers, Ali a double world champion, Clemons a world silver medalist.
Christina Clemons, Lieven, photo by LF Photography
In Boston Nia Ali (7.94) won with Clemons (7.98) second. In Karlsruhe Clemons was again second, again in 7.98 with Tobi Amusan winning in 7.84. In Dusseldorf, Clemons won (7.81). In Torun Alina Talay won (7.87) with Clemons third in 7.89. In Glasgow Talay (first) and Ali (second) both clocked 8.03. Clemons, who had run 8.01 in the prelim, was third in 8.04. In Lievin it was Ali from Clemons with both timed at 7.92. In Madrid Clemons and Ali each clocked 7.82 with Clemons getting the win.
Nia Ali with the Mascot, Lieven, photo by LF Photogaphy
Ali had commented: “It was super-close. I was expecting it to be that way. We’re always neck and neck so it’s great that I could challenge myself under that pressure”. She was referring to the Glasgow race but the comments were relevant to just about all the races. In Glasgow, Clemons had started badly and hit the final hurdle. Asked what she learned from that race, Clemons, showing a wit as quick as her hurdling, replied: “I have to make sure I get out quicker and avoid that final hurdle”.
Ali and Clemons, Lieven, photo by LF Photography
It is great to see Clemons in such good form. After a stellar college career, she suffered a serious injury: “In my first professional year I ruptured my Achilles on the right foot and that injury takes 12 months before you’re able to touch a track again. And with that injury came other small injuries like hamstring – a lot of hamstring pulls, a strained calf, my other Achilles because you’re putting so much stress on the other side. You lose so much strength and power in your leg that you have to learn to walk all over again so it took a while to get healthy”.
Clemons reached the final of the 2017 World Championships in London, finishing fifth and took silver in the 2018 World Indoors. She would have been one of the favorites for the World Indoors this year if it had not been postponed. But then there is another hurdles event in Tokyo this summer.
Christina Clemons, Lieven, photo by LF Photography
Nia Ali has won the world indoors twice (2014 and 2016) – and the 2019 World (outdoors). Until her win in Doha last year, she tended to be regarded more as an indoor specialist – was that fair, I wondered. “I don’t know”, she replied.” It’s a tough thing for me to say. If you look at my outdoor races, I tend to come from behind. And my indoor times are not that fast. Looking at my indoor PR, I think I can go a lot faster. I think I just do what it takes. I’m a real fighter and whatever it takes to win, I do it out there on the track. I had done pretty well for myself indoors so I guess you could say I’m an indoor specialist”. With that World Championship 100m Hurdles gold medal and an Olympic silver, I think Nia is a pretty good all-round hurdler.
The challenge for both potential Olympic medalists is that they are part of that golden generation of American hurdlers. They will be battling with Brianna McNeal, Keni Harrison, Dawn Harper-Nelson, Queen Harrison, Sharika Nelvis etc for just three Olympic slots. The races will be worth watching.
Christina Clemons in Madrid, photo and copyright by Dan Vernon
