Joshua Abuaku finished eighth and last in the 400m hurdles World Cup final. He didn’t get any closer to the German record set by Harald Schmid. In 48.53 seconds, the 27-year-old beat his personal best of 48.32 seconds, which he had set in the run-up to the World Athletics Championships in Budapest.
“It’s definitely okay. I’m not satisfied. What’s important for me personally is that I can definitely keep up,” he said right after the race. “I’m sure we’ll pull through until next year and then hopefully the result at the Olympics will be a little bit better.”
Abuaku from Frankfurt was the first German to start in a World Cup final over 400 meters hurdles since 1987. Schmid’s German record is even five years older and is 47.48 seconds. Schmid is the only German runner over 400 meters hurdles who has ever been faster than Abuaku.
Warholm wins ahead of McMaster and Benjamin
As expected, the title went to the Norwegian world record holder Karsten Warholm. The two-time World and Olympic champion won in 46.88 seconds ahead of the British Virgin Islands’ Kyron McMaster, who ran 47.34 seconds. American Rai Benjamin was third in 47.56 seconds.
At her world championship premiere, 21-year-old Olivia Gürth qualified for the final over 3000 meters steeplechase on Sunday with a best time of 9:24.28 minutes after a clever division of the race. “I don’t want to be irritated by the crazy initial pace,” said the U23 European champion.
