2010 End of Year Reviews - Hurdles

Monte Carlo - In part four of their annual season review, statisticians A. Lennart Julin (SWE) and Mirko Jalava (FIN) recall the 2010 season's key action in the HURDLES.

MEN –

28-year-old American David Oliver took his place as the world’s clear number one hurdler during the 2010 outdoor season. World record holder and reigning Olympic champion Dayron Robles (CUB) might have had injury problems during the outdoor season, but that wasn’t more than just a small part of Oliver’s emphatic dominance which brought 15 wins in 15 starts. The bronze medallist in the last two major championships in Beijing and Berlin, American Bershawn Jackson was almost as impressive in the 400m hurdles. Following a gold in the 4x400m relay at the World Indoors in Doha, Jackson closed in on his 2005 personal best 47.30 from the 2005 World Championships clocking 47.32 to win the US title in June and finished in the top three in each of his 12 finals of the season, winning nine.

110m Hurdles –

In the 110m Hurdles David Oliver established himself in the world elite in 2008 when he won his first US title (12.95w) and recorded his first sub 13-second race in Doha winning in 12.95 there. But in Beijing he was not able to challenge new World record holder Dayron Robles although he did get an Olympic bronze medal well behind the Cuban. The 2009 outdoor season was cut short for Oliver, who was injured in June and could not take part to the US Championships.