Men's 400 Meter Hurdles Results
Favorites Angelo Taylor and Eric Thomas got out well, but Joey Woody lagged over the opening 200. Taylor and Thomas never were challenged for the top 2 spots, Taylor leading into the final stretch.
The '98 U.S. national champion was unchallenged heading home to his PR victory of 47.62, the season's fastest, a ragged clearance of the final barrier notwithstanding. His career-best makes him the No. 7 American of all-time. Thomas was virtually as clear a claimant to 2nd in 48.22.
Woody held 3rd as the field entered the homestraight, but Carter was coming on strong. The pair was even at hurdle 9, but Carter took over 3rd place before No. 10 as Woody faded. Carter clocked a PR 48.46 to claim the final team slot. Woody (48.83) was barely able to hold off the homestretch charge by William Porter (48.88) in lane 1.
Atlanta Olympic bronze medalist Calvin Davis (49.27) finished 6th on the outside ahead of collegian Sherman Armstrong of Illinois (50.04) and Louis Sales (50.89).
/Jon Hendershott/I: Eric Thomas got out slowly in lane 4, while Calvin Davis in 3 was out strongly. Down the backstretch, Thomas pulled even with Davis with Angelo Taylore and defending Olympic champion Derrick Adkins moving well. Over the final two barriers, Taylor (48.59), Thomas (48.79) and Davis (49.27) held on to the top three slots. But Adkins slipped back on the run-in to finish 6th (5t0.22) as Louis Sales (49.72) grabbed the last slot in the final from Octavius Terry (49.92).
II: James Carter and Sherman Armstrong led early, with Joey Woody lagging, But Woody began moving midway in the second turn and took command for good into the stretch. He held the front to win in 48.72 as Carter (48.87) edged William Porter (48.91) and Armstrong (48.94) in a close finish for 2nd.
The first round of the men's 400 hurdles was uneventful. Only the fourth heat had any problems. In the fourth heat there was a late callback and a false start. But Angelo Taylor and Derrick Adkins had no problems advancing. All of the likely top 5 automatically advanced.
Eric Thomas led qualifying in 49.25. He was followed by Joey Woody (49.36), Sherman Armstrong (49.53), and Angelo Taylor (49.55).
Results
Heats: I-1. Makio Haywood (unat) 50.16; 2. Bayano Kamani (Bay) 50.39; 3. Regan Nichols (Asics) 50.44; 4. Aaron Lacy (unat) 51.75; 5. Kyle Grossarth (BYU) 52.22.
II-1. Eric Thomas (Nik) 49.25; 2. William Porter (Nik) 49.34; 3. Torrance Zellner (adi) 49.50; 4. Octavius Terry (BrI) 49.83; 5. Maurice Mitchell (TQ) 50.56; 6. Mario Russo (unat) 52.41.
III-1. Sherman Armstrong (Il) 49.53; 2. James Carter (unat) 49.77; 3. David Aaron (Tx) 51.10; 4. Derek Spears (unat) 51.92.
IV-1. Angelo Taylor (Nik) 49.55; 2. Derrick Adkins (unat) 49.84; 3. Louis Sales Jr. (Reeb) 49.93; 4. McClinton Neal (SMTC) 51.46; 5. Calvin Bostic (USAF) 52.28; 6. John McAfee (InI) 1:02.22.
V-1. Joey Woody (NBal) 49.36; 2. Calvin Davis (adi) 50.25; 3. Ferdana Johnson (unat) 50.56; 4. Quinton Milner (unat) 50.72; 5. Travis McAshan (TxAM) 50.80; 6. Adrian Mann (Fl) 51.10.