03/14/2010 - 19:02
A Class of Their Own
by Devon Jeffreys

It was one of the most highly anticipated races of the 2010 IAAF World Indoor Championships, if not the entire track season and the 60m hurdles final did not disappoint.

Terrence Trammell was the favorite going into Doha, Qatar, and ran his best race in a year where he's already racked up four titles, but came up just short of defeating 2008 Olympic Champion Dayron Robles.

It was, as Vicki Oddi of the USATF described, the race of Terrence's life:

"Two-time World Indoor champion Terrence Trammell had the race of his life tonight in the men's 60m hurdles and still did not come away with the gold. Clearing the final hurdle, it looked like Trammell had it. Instead he added another silver medal to his collection of two Olympic and three World Outdoor silver medals."

Robles edged T2 with a dip at the line to take a photo finish victory and the 2010 World Indoor Championship in 7.34 seconds. Terrence's second place was his fastest time in the 60m hurdles and tied the American record.

Laura Arcoleo of the IAAF described the race:

"Trammell and Robles were in a class of their own today so it was unavoidable that attention was drawn to these two.

Trammell had the best reaction time and the best transition up to the first hurdle. On the other hand, Robles had the slowest reaction but don’t let this piece of information fool you, he was right there up in the mix. Trammell’s technique was impeccable and he managed to hold on, marginally yes, but he held on.

Gritting his teeth Trammell was still marginally ahead as both touched the ground coming off the final barrier. And then with what looked like a move out of nowhere, Robles ate up on Trammell. With two of the most powerful steps, Robles made the difference and dipped oh-so-well to the line.

It looked close to the naked eye but then the replay left no doubt as to who had won it."

A disappointed, yet optimistic T2 reflected after the race:

“I did a mistake coming up to the fifth hurdle. So I must be happy to run a US record after that. But it also shows that I can think about world records.”

As Arcoleo noted, there was no reason for Terrence to feel discouraged:

Trammell's time was by far the fastest losing time and would have won a gold at any of the 12 previous editions of these championships.

TT had been the class of the field coming into the final, blowing away competitors with a 7.60 in the preliminary and a 7.51 in the semifinal. He did it despite competitors falling to his left and his right.

“I just tried to go ahead, focus on my race, and not to worry about distraction. I've already been here before. I made it through as safely as possible.”

A CLASSIC ON THE TRACK
On his blog from the Indoor Championships, Alan Abrahmson of Universal Sports gushed about the final, ranking it among the best events on the track in recent memory.

"It makes one wistful, it really does, because the men's 60-meter hurdle final Sunday here at track and field's World Indoor Championships had all the stuff that makes the sport great.

If only it was always like this. If you could capture the excitement and the theater of this race and bottle it, track and field might yet again be what it ought to be, what it once was -- a very, very big deal.

What else could you want? The 2008 Olympic hurdles champion -- who is also the world-record holder in that outdoor 110-meter event -- lined up in Lane 6. The 2004 Olympic champion was in Lane 7. The 2000 and 2004 Olympic silver medalist, who had run the fastest 60m time in the world this winter, and just two weeks ago, was in Lane 4. The 2008 Olympic bronze medalist was in Lane 8.

They broke clean from the start. They ran hard. They leaned at the tape."

Terrence was gracious in defeat:

"I'm grateful," he said. "I was coming here for the win but it's OK. I'm good with this."

His competitor, Robles, was just as gracious, noting that racing against Terrence, one of the best in the world, makes him run his best:

"I knew the race would be decided in the photo finish as Trammell is very fast and has a great start. I love racing with him because every time we meet I run great times. I am as excited as breaking the world record. It is as important as winning the Olympic gold."

Terrence took the silver, but in Abrahmson's estimation, he also helped deliver the type of race track fans have been craving:

Really -- what else could you want?

To watch the final from start to finish, courtesy of Universal Sports, click here.

RELATED STORIES
Trammell ready for showdown (Gulf Times, March 11, 2010)
http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=348158...
Hurdles perfect recipe with Robles, Trammell, Liu & Co. (IAAF, March 13, 2010)
http://www.iaaf.org/WIC10/news/kind=100/newsid=55942.html
LaVerne Jones-Ferrette On Target To Win World Indoor Sprint Title (World Track, March 13, 2010)
http://www.world-track.org/sportsnews/12000/laverne-jonesferrette-target...
Robles stuns Trammell, Lagat bags 3,000m gold (Gulf Times, March 14, 2010)
http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=348847...
Robles Edges Trammell for 60 Hurdles Title (New York Times, March 14, 2010)
http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2010/03/14/sports/sports-us-athletics-wor...
Heavy medal haul for Team USA (USATF, March 15, 2010)
http://www.usatf.org/news/view.aspx?DUID=USATF_2010_03_14_13_39_08
Robles back to winning form (Universal Sports, March 14, 2010)
http://www.universalsports.com/video/assetid=b84d4382-306c-4529-910b-ddc...
A 60-meter hurdles race that lives up to the billing (Universal Sports, March 14, 2010)
http://www.universalsports.com/blogs/blog=alanabrahamsonsblog/postid=459...
Robles grabs first World Gold in style (IAAF, March 14, 2010)
http://www.iaaf.org/WIC10/news/kind=100/newsid=56155.html

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