It has been a long time since a British 400m hurdler has broken 48 seconds. 18 years in fact. But here in the Poljud Stadium in Split – the same track where UK record-holder Kriss Akabusi struck gold in 1990 – David Greene became the 37th member of the elite sub-48 club, scoring a surprise victory at the IAAF / VTB Bank Continental Cup.
Greene was a finalist at last year’s IAAF World Championships in Berlin, and has built on that this year by cementing his status as European No.1, confirming it with a dominating display in Barcelona to win European gold in 48.12.
But on the Samsung Diamond League circuit, he has had to play second fiddle to the might of the USA, particularly World leader Bershawn Jackson. The US Champion was not so fortunate here, however, and clattered the final hurdle as Greene strode to victory.
“Bershawn has only been beaten by one other person, Kerron Clement, this season, so to be one of just two people to beat him feels good and gives me a lot of confidence,” said Greene. “In Barcelona I was expected to win, but here I didn’t have the same pressure.”….Read More At IAAF
