Gordon Wins, but Culson Takes Big Prize

Trinidad and Tobago’s (T&T) Moscow World 400m hurdles gold medalist Jehue Gordon topped off his 2013 season by striking gold at the Belgacom Van Damme Memorial IAAF Diamond League meet in Brussels, Belgium Friday, Sept. 6. In doing so, the national champion and record holder defeated Omar Cisneros of Cuba and Puerto Rico’s Javier Culson.

Gordon stopped the clock at 48.32secs as Cisneros secured the silver in 48.59, and Culson was 1/100th of a second behind him in 48.60 for the bronze. Fourth-placed Michael Tinsley of the United States also clocked 48.60.

It was Gordon’s second Diamond League victory in his career. His first was on July 19 this year with 48 seconds flat in Monaco. Less than a month ago, the 21-yer-old set a new T&T record of 47.69 in Moscow.

However, Culson’s accumulation of 15 points over six Diamond League meets made him overall winner of the 400m hurdles Diamond race trophy and US$40,000 first prize. Gordon tallied 12 points for second place in the one-lap hurdles Diamond race.