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"I've never had that many restarts ever, in my
life," world silver medallist Sydney McLaughlin said, speaking
after four recalls were needed to get the opening heat of the
women's 400 metres hurdles under way.
"It was definitely a little bit of a mind game, having to
refocus that many times," said McLaughlin, who still ran the
fastest time of the rounds (54.07 seconds) to set the stage for
a showdown on Sunday with world record holder Dalilah Muhammad,
who clocked 55.51 in a later heat.
McLaughlin also did it with a bloody knee.
"My knee started bleeding a little just from the hot track," she
said of the numerous restarts.
In blazing sunshine, temperatures climbed to 95 F (35°C) and it
was even hotter on the Hayward Field track.
Even the slightest hint of movement by athletes in the blocks
appeared to set off an electronic recall alarm, starting with
the fourth round of the men's 110 metre hurdles where five
restarts were needed with only one official false start called.
"Under the conditions, the rules of the game is to survive and
advance," said Jarret Eaton, who moved on to Saturday's
semi-finals. "You use a lot of energy and mental focus at that
moment."
Four-time Olympic sprint medallist Ato Boldon, now an analyst
for broadcaster NBC, blamed the sensitivity of the starting
blocks for the misfires.
As spectators booed and whistled, Boldon told viewers he didn't
agree with athletes having to get used to the blocks: the blocks
need to be adjusted to the athletes, he said. "The blocks are
set too sensitive."
After the 400 hurdles, the trials went off without major
miscues.
But the weather will be an even bigger problem at the weekend,
with weather forecasters issuing an excessive heat warning
promising temperatures of 107 F (41.6°C).
(Reporting by Gene Cherry; Editing by Kenneth Maxwell)
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