One of the main names in Brazilian athletics in the Tokyo Olympic Games, Alison dos Santos will compete in the final of the 400 m with hurdles. The Brazilian athlete guaranteed his place today with a time of 47s31 in the second heat.
Alison dos Santos’ brand secured the lead in his series, the third overall, and again broke the South American record, which was his, of 47s34. With a smile on his face and calm, the 20-year-old looked like a veteran after the race.
“I’m very confident for this competition, I trained a lot, I’m well conditioned, so it increases my confidence a lot. I have my lucky charms, people with me who put me back on the ground, make me understand that I’m here but I can’t let the nervousness rise to my head, I need to keep my feet on the ground, focused; The journey is just beginning, one shot at a time, I made it to the final, now it’s fighting for the medal. The people who are with me are very close, I trust them a lot, I love a lot of them and they are playing this role for me,” he told SporTV.
Only one runner scored a better time than Alison in the semifinals: world record holder Karsten Warholm, from Norway, who scored 47s30, just a hundredth ahead of the Brazilian. Another favorite, American Rai Benjamin was in the second position of his heat, with 47s37, and is another opponent for the São Paulo runner.
“In athletics, of course Benjamin and Warholm are favorites for gold. But there are eight chances in the final. Everyone fights for three medals. You can’t say who will take it. I hope I’m one of them,” he said.
All this “letting go” at the end of the 400m, with the lead already guaranteed. In other words: there is room for an even better time.
“My coach gave me the power to decide whether I was going to run the race strong or if I was going to control at some point. I thought I hadn’t done a good race until the eighth hurdle, so I decided to continue strong, become very strong . When I saw it later, I regretted it a little, I could have made that shot stronger. It was a good result, I’m very happy to be in the final, very happy, we were planning it, dreaming about it, and now it’s coming true.” , said.
The top two from each of the three heats guaranteed a direct spot in the final – -regardless of the weather. In addition to them, the two best overall times advanced.
Finalists
Favorites Karsten Warholm, from Norway, with 47.30, and Rai Benjamin, from the USA, with 47.37, secured their place in the decision by leading the first heat with some clearance, including holding the rhythm at the end.
In second grade he also gave logic. Alison dos Santos, with 47.31, won calmly, lightening the pace at the end of the competition. The Qatari Abderrahman Samba, who also ‘took his foot’ at the end, secured himself in the final with a time of 47.47.
In third grade, Jamaican Jaheel Jam led the race until he tripped over a barrier and fell. Best for McMaster, from the British Virgin Islands, who scored 48.26, and for the Estonian Rasmus Magi, who did 48.36, guaranteeing a place in the final.
Besides them, the Italian Alessandro Sibilio, with 47.93, and the Turkish Yasmani Copello, with 47.88, also qualified with the best times.
Qualifiers
In qualifying for the semifinal, Alison made the second time of the first heat: 48s42 and guaranteed a place in the next phase with ease. Marcio Teles, who competed in the third heat was sixth in his series and failed to advance.
Champion of the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Alison dos Santos was the first Brazilian in history to run this race under 48s.
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