Sanya Richards Wins the Big One

It's a rare sight to see a runner leap across the finish line of a major race, and I've never seen it in the anaerobically brutal 400m, but for Sanya Richards there was no containing the joy and relief of finally delivering on here promise and potential and winning a world title.

Richards won in 49:00, making up for her disappointing bronze medal in Beijing, and probably hasn't stopped smiling since.

In addition to her bronze medal in 2008, Richards has a World Championships silver from 2005. In 2006, a year with no Olympics or World Championships, she was undefeated at 400m. However, with five world #1 rankings, she had higher expectations.

Her first world title looked easy, once it was out of the way, but Richards had obstacles, too. In an article today's New York Times, Christopher Clarey writes:

"Richards is afflicted with Behcet’s syndrome, a vascular disorder that causes chronic inflammation of blood vessels. It has sapped her strength at critical sporting moments in the past, spoiling her 2007 season and then flaring up again earlier this year and during these championships, leaving her with lesions that she covered with makeup Tuesday.

'I kind of expect that,' she said. 'It usually flares up when I’m stressed and even though I try to be very relaxed, it’s hard when I have a major title on the line. So I did have a little bit of a flare-up, but I know how to handle it now. It didn’t get in my mind and didn’t get in my way.'"

The U.S. won two gold medals yesterday, as Kerron Clement won the 400m hurdles in 47.91, defending his world title. The race had a fascinating cast of characters including silver medalist Javier Culson, the first athlete from Puerto Rico to win a medal at the World Championships, former world champion Bershawn Jackson of the U.S., who took the bronze, and 17-year-old Jehue Gordon, who finished fourth and very nearly got a medal. Trinidadian Gordon has lowered his personal best by 1.19 during his time in Berlin, and after running 48.26 in the final, is now his country's national record holder and the world's second fastest junior of all time. He also became the youngest-ever finalist in a World Championships sprint event.

Coincidentally, 37-year-old Jamaican Danny Macfarlane, who ran in the lane next to Gordon, became the OLDEST-ever male finisher in a WC sprint final, as he ran an ageless 48.65 to place 6th. Two-time world champion Felix Sanchez crashed into the first hurdle and finished last.

Next up: the men's 1500m final!