Women hurdling to clear obstacles
Published: Tuesday | August 18, 2009
Melaine Walker
BERLIN, Germany:
Despite having an Olympic gold medal and Games record safely tucked away, Jamaica's 400 metres hurdler Melaine Walker admits she is feeling the pressure to do well at the IAAF World Championships in Athletics here.
However, the national champion easily won her heat in 55.17 seconds yesterday, the fourth-fastest run of the first round, to advance to today's semi-final and is confident she can turn the added expectations into positives.
"There's a whole bunch of pressure," Walker said after her race. "There's a lot of pressure, but I can deal with it. Pressure is sometimes a good thing and I am hoping that it works to my advantage."
She will first have to iron out some kinks. Yesterday, Walker, who conceded a less-than-impressive start to the 2009 season, with a best time of 54.20 so far, said she felt her form is gradually coming together although her first run was not close to how she started out in Beijing, China, to win in a record 52.64 last summer.
"This one is not as good as the first round at the Olympics," she explained. "The first round at the Olympics I was blazing. I was 54.2 coming out. I couldn't believe I ran that. But that's just how my body was feeling. I have to run based on how my body is feeling."
She wasn't the only Jamaican looking to smooth over hitches in yesterday's first round, although all three entrants swept into the semi-finals.
Kaliese Spencer, who was narrowly beaten by Walker at Jamaica's trials in June, also won her heat, clocking the third-fastest time of 55.12. But she too was trying hard to get her race properly in gear.
Adverse effects
"I didn't get my rhythm going," said Spencer.
Perhaps the most grateful of Jamaica's trio to advance was Nickiesha Wilson. She won her heat in 55.37, but was more content that she did not feel any adverse effects from ankle injuries suffered earlier in the year. Yesterday's win eased the uncertainty.
"I think (my performance) was good, considering I've been coming off an injury since May and I believe I ran really good," said Wilson shortly after her race. "And that was the aim, to go out there and make it to the next round because I didn't know what shape I was in coming in. I'm not really feeling (the ankles) right now and that's a good thing."
All three Jamaicans will have to get it sorted out soon if they hope to challenge this season's leader in the event. American Lashinda Demus led all semi-final qualifiers with 54.66 to take the final heat yesterday. Demus, who had a season's and personal-best 52.63, said she deliberately wanted to run fast, but stopped short of claiming to send a message to the Olympic champion.
"It was planned," Demus said of her quick start. "Me and my coach, we discussed what we were gonna do. I think I ran a little bit faster than what she wanted me to, but it was all planned and I think I ran well.
"It was not a statement for anybody but the Lord," she added.
Also sounding her presence was Angela Morosanu of Romania, who won heat four in 54.70, the second quickest of the round.
However, Walker is backing herself. She has the pedigree. If only she can repeat it.
"I never count myself out," she said, "and I feel like if I run somewhat like at the Olympics or close to that, it should put me in a comfortable position, maybe give me the victory.
"I just have to go out there and have a sound mind and hopefully run well."
Medals table
BERLIN (AP):
Medals table from the World Champion-ships in Athletics: (After 13 of 49 events).
| Nation | G | S | B | Tot |
| Russia | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| Jamaica | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Poland | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
| United States | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| Ethiopia | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Cuba | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Kenya | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Britain | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Slovenia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Spain | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| New Zealand | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Germany | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| China | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Eritrea | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Ireland | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Mexico | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1
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