McCorory Holds Off Resurgent Richards-Ross to Win U.S. 400m Title

Published by IAAF on June 28, 2014

It was the showdown they had all come to see on day four of the US Championships in Sacramento, and the duel between Francena McCorory and Sanya Richards-Ross over 400m duly lived up to expectation on Saturday (28), with both athletes smashing the 50-second barrier and offering up a race to remember. 

In the end, it was McCorory who emerged victorious, the 25-year-old speeding off the home turn with a three-metre lead over Richards-Ross – a lead that dwindled but could never be clawed back entirely as the pair approached the line.

McCorory held her form brilliantly in the run to the finish, which she reached in a lifetime best of 49.48, making her the fifth-fastest US woman ever over the distance.

“I ran my lights out today,” said McCorory. “Starting out strong is what made the difference. I’m happy. I had an all-around great meet.”

The world indoor champion is now setting her long-term sights on the most ambitious of targets: Marita Koch’s 400m world record. “Hopefully before my career is out, I can break the world record. It’s 47.6, so I’ll have to be moving and grooving.”

Runner-up Richards-Ross was delighted with her return to form after some chronic injury problems in her foot, which still hamper her in training. “It went really well,” she said. “I got out hard, ran my curve better. I thought I had done enough, but Fran ran a phenomenal race. I’m really happy for her, winning her first national title, but next year is going to be a different story.”