2017 IAAF World Championships

American Kori Carter Wins World 400m Hurdles Final Out Of Lane Nine

American Kori Carter Wins World 400m Hurdles Final Out Of Lane Nine

American Kori Carter wins the 400m hurdles at the 2017 IAAF World Championships.

Aug 10, 2017 by Johanna Gretschel
American Kori Carter Wins World 400m Hurdles Final Out Of Lane Nine
American Kori Carter took a page out of Wayde van Niekerk's book by charging to victory in the women's 400m hurdles with a 53.07 effort from lane nine. van Niekerk, of course, set the world record for 400m at the Rio Olympic Games from lane eight, the least desired start point in a track quarter mile due to athletes' inability to see the rest of the competition.

The lane clearly didn't bother Carter as the NCAA record holder got out hard, tying with two-time world champion Zuzana Hejnová for fastest reaction time in 0.151, and held on to her lead through the finish line.

The win was an upset over countrywoman Dalilah Muhammad, the reigning Olympic champion, U.S. champion and fastest woman in the world this year at 52.64. Muhammad ran nearly even with Carter as the athletes came off the curve to the final straightaway but could not get past Carter and had to settle for silver in 53.50. 

Hejnová ran in third position entering the final straight but faltered in the last 30 meters as 25-year-old Ristananna Tracey of Jamaica pounced, earning her first global championship medal in 53.74, a personal best.


Carter is coached by Edrick Floreal of the University of Kentucky, who also mentors 2017 men's 110m hurdles world champion Omar McLeod and women's 100m hurdles world record holder Keni Harrison, the favorite for the short hurdles final later this week.

The race was reminiscent of last night's women's 400m final, when Phyllis Francis, who had never individually medaled in a global championship before, upset veteran and fellow American Allyson Felix for the win.

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