World Championships in Athletics
As once Schmid: Abuaku runs in the 400-meter hurdles final
Joshua Abuaku has reached the final in the 400m hurdles. photo
© Marcus Brandt/dpa
Joshua Abuaku was the first German runner since Harald Schmid to reach the final of the 400-meter hurdles. The 27-year-old advanced at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest in 48.39 seconds as one of the two fastest semi-finalists who did not qualify directly.
Joshua Abuaku was the first German runner since Harald Schmid to reach the final of the 400-meter hurdles. The 27-year-old advanced at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest in 48.39 seconds as one of the two fastest semi-finalists who did not qualify directly.
The best in the semifinals was two-time world champion and Olympic champion Karsten Warholm from Norway in 47.09 seconds.
“I really wanted to go to the final. I’m infinitely grateful,” said Abuaku on ZDF. In 1983 and 1987, Harald Schmid was the only German hurdler over the 400 meters to reach the World Cup final. He won silver and bronze.
Unlike Abuaku from Frankfurt, Emil Agyekum from Berlin made it to the semifinals despite a personal best of 48.71. Carolina Krafzik and Eileen Demes previously reached the women’s semifinals.