Panama and UW alum Gianna Woodruff's 400 hurdles run ends in semis in London...
LONDON—University of Washington graduate Gianna Woodruff’s (left/photo by Howard Lao) run at the IAAF World Track & Field Championships ended Tuesday night at London Stadium, as the Panamanian 400 meter hurdler finished seventh in her semifinal heat.
Woodruff, who now trains in Northridge, California, was in a stacked field that included her training partner and defending Olympic champion Dalilah Muhammad, along with reigning NCAA champion Sage Watson of Canada via the University of Arizona.
After last night’s first round, the reigning South American champion and national record holder knew that she needed to run as close to a flawless race and set a personal best in order to advance to Thursday’s final.
In the end, Woodruff ran 57.32, as Muhammad won the heat in 55.00, with Watson second in 55.05.Third place finisher Eilidh Doyle of Great Britain got the final non-automatic qualifying spot into the finals, running 55.33.
paulmerca.blogspot.com attempted to contact Woodruff in the mixed zone afterwards, but was unsuccessful.
No athletes with Washington ties will compete until Friday when former Washington State assistant coach Angela Whyte runs in the first round of the women’s 100 hurdles at 10:45 am, local time (2:45 am in Seattle).
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