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BEIJING - Kenya is known for their outstanding distance runners, as evidenced by their podium domination in Beijing. But for the first time in world championships history, the gold medal in the 400m hurdles went to Kenya. Nicholas Bett ran a world leading mark and National Kenyan record of 47.79 to be the first Kenyan to win an Olympic/World title in an event shorter than 800m.

He took down Denis Kudryavtsev of Russia and Jeffery Gibson of the Bahamas in the 400m hurdle race. All three earned their country’s first ever medal in the event.



It was a disappointing showing for Team USA. Two time world champion and Olympic silver medalist Kerron Clement missed bronze by .01, running 48.18 for fourth. Reigning world champ Michael Tinsley stumbled over the last two hurdles and finished eighth in 50.02. The U.S. holds seven of the top 10 marks all time in this event and this is the first time since the 2004 Olympics that an American has not medaled in the 400m hurdles at the world championships or Olympic Games.

Genzebe Dibaba continued world dominance by winning the women’s 1500m in 4:08.09. Dibaba threw in a 57.24 between 800m and 1200m to surge around the track winning her first outdoor gold medal. Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon took silver in 4:08.96 and Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands bronze in 4:09.34. For more on the race, here.

David Rudisha won his second career world championship gold in the men’s 800m, running 1:45.84 to dominate the tactical race. After missing the 2013 Championships with a knee injury, it was Rudisha’s race from the gun. Without rival Nijel Amos and 2013 Champ Mo Aman in the final, Poland’s Adam Kszczot and Bosnia’s Amel Tuka earned silver and bronze. For more on the race, here.

Allyson Felix Looks Like 400m Favorite After 49.89 Semi-Final

The women’s 400m semi-final heats were highlighted by the effortless stride of Allyson Felix. Felix won her section in 49.89, just .3 off of her personal best set in 2011 at the world championships in Daegu, where she took silver.

Felix cruised into the finish line with Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson following in 50.03. The Jamaican team will be represented well in the final with Jackson, Novlene Williams-Mills, Christine Day and Stephanie Ann McPherson all advancing to the final.

Felix’s time is her sixth fastest mark ever in the distance. In 2011, she competed in both the 200m and 400m, erning bronze and silver, respectively. Her decision to only focus on the 400m is partially due to the schedule at the championships. The women’s 200m semi-final is at 7:15pm on August 27 and the 400m final is at 8:40pm on the same evening. If she doubled (assuming she advances to the 200m final), the 400m final would be her fifth race in four days.

A big threat to Felix’s chances of winning her eighth individual global medal could be Shaunae Miller of the Bahamas. The former Georgia NCAA Champion breezed through her section in 50.12 and has a season/personal best time of 49.92.

Former Oregon Duck and indoor American record holder Phyllis Francis was the last qualifier into the final, running an outdoor personal best of 50.50. Natasha Hastings ran 51.33 and did not advance.

Usain Bolt and Justin Gatlin Cruise Into 200m Semis

Usain Bolt (20.28) and Justin Gatlin (20.19) looked as comfortable as ever easily winning their prelim sections of the men’s 200m. 2009 World Champs finalist Ramil Guliyev of Turkey recorded the fastest time of the evening session in 20.01.

Japan’s 16-year-old Abdul Hakim Sani Brown finished second to Gatlin in their section, running 20.35. In last month’s World Youth Championships, Sani Brown won the 100m and 200m in event records of 10.28 and 20.34.



The semi-finals of the men's 200m will be contested tomorrow evening at 8:30pm in Beijing.