TORONTO – Shamier Little added another 400-meter hurdle title to her impressive résumé as she remained undefeated in the event this season with a winning time of 55.50 seconds to secure the Pan American Games title at York University on Wednesday evening.
The Aggie sophomore, stationed in lane four, had solid competition with Sparkle McKnight of Trinidad & Tobago in lane five and Canada’s Sarah Wells in lane three. That combination gave Little a challenging hurdler to chase while getting a push by another strong contender from an inside lane.
Little managed to make up the stagger on McKnight by the third hurdle as a quick start by Wells enabled her to establish a hold on the runner-up position. Using an alternate lead leg once she reached hurdle eight, Little cruised to an impressive win once she cleared the final hurdle.
A drive to finish line by Little put a half a second cushion over the 56.17 Wells clocked for second place. Finishing third in 56.41 was Uruguay’s Deborah Rodriquez with Cuba’s Zurian Hechavarria fourth at 56.72. McKnight placed fifth, clocking 57.30.
Since the 400 hurdles were added to the Pan Am Games schedule in 1983, Little is the sixth American winner in nine finals. Previous U.S. victories were attained by Judi Brown King (1983, 1987), Kim Batten (1995), Johanna Hayes (2003) and Sheena Johnson (2007).
Undefeated through seven finals this season, Little’s winning streak stretches over 23 total races and 10 finals since a third-place finish at the 2014 SEC Championships, which she contested after winning the open 400 on the same day.
In her two seasons as an Aggie, Little has claimed seven 400m hurdle titles – 2014: NCAA, USATF Juniors, World Juniors; 2015: SEC, NCAA, USATF, Pan Am Games.
Through the first day of the decathlon Texas A&M’s Lindon Victor (Grenada) is currently in seventh place with a score of 3,895 points while his brother Kurt Felix is in third place with a tally of 4,347 points. The leader, with 4,460 points is Canadian Damian Warner with Brazil’s Felipe Dos Santos in the runner-up position with 4,397 points.
Victor’s day included a 10.99 (1.4 wind) for 863 points in the 100 meters, followed by 22-8 (6.91) long jump for 792 points, and a 48-4 ¾ (14.75) shot put for 774 points. In the high jump Victor cleared 6-4 ¼ (1.94) for 749 points and then he wrapped up the fifth event contested with a 52.18 for 717 points in the 400.
In semifinal races held on Wednesday, three Aggies each placed seventh in their respective races. The trio included Janeil Bellille in the women’s 400 (54.41), Bralon Taplin in the men’s 400 (47.61) and Shavez Hartin the men’s 100 (10.18w).
Thursday’s action at the Pan Am Games will include the prelims and semifinals of the 200 meters for Kanika Beckles (Grenada), Simone Facey (Jamaica), and Hart (Bahamas).
Story courtesy of Texas A&M Athletics