Kyron A. McMaster, running in Lane 4, clocked 48.15 to ensure a good lane draw for the 400m Hurdles Final in Paris. Photo: Todd VanSickle

World Athletics Championships Silver medallist from the [British] Virgin Islands Kyron A. McMaster looked set to run 47 seconds in the semi-finals of the Men’s 400m Hurdles at Stade de France in Paris moments ago, August 7, 2024, but on realising he was ahead of the pack he shut it down before the finish line to still win and book his place in the final Friday, August 9, 2024, at 3:45 PM. Photo: Todd vanSickle

The Final of the Men's 400m Hurdles at the Paris Olympics looks set to be an epic showdown. Photo: NBC Olympics

400m hurdler Kyron A. McMaster and teenage sprinter Adaejah T. Hodge are through to the semi-finals of their respective events at the Olympic Games in Paris, France. Photo: Todd van Sickle

Adaejah T. Hodge finished second in Heat 1 of the Repechage Round this morning, clocking 22.94. The race was won by Canada’s Jacqueline Madogo in a time of 22.58. Third was Greece’s Polyniki Emmanouilidou. Photo: Todd van Sickle

Kyron A. McMaster, the World Championships Silver Medalist, was an automatic qualifier after finishing third in his heat race in the 400m Hurdles. Photo: Todd vanSickle

McMaster, running in Lane 4, clocked 48.15 to ensure a good lane draw for the final.

There were some nervous moments at the finishing; however, as Magi Rasmus (48.16) of Estonia and Abderrahman Samba (48.20) of Qatar came charging to the finishing line while McMaster eased down and was nearly pipped.

Commenting after the race, McMaster said the plan was to “get in position for the big Q” and make it through as easily as possible.

“I think it was a good race. I think I just have to commit more to certain phases of the race and I’ll be good,” McMaster commented.

McMaster’s main rivals are also in the final, including defending Olympic champion Karsten Warholm (47.67) of Norway and Rai Benjamin (47.85) of the USA, who both won their semi-final races.

Brazil’s Alison Dos Santos (47.95) and Samba made it through to the final as the fastest non-automatic qualifiers.

See previous article published August 5, 2024

McMaster & Hodge through to semi-finals @ Paris Olympics

400m hurdler Kyron A. McMaster and teenage sprinter Adaejah T. Hodge are through to the semi-finals of their respective events at the Olympic Games in Paris, France.

McMaster, the World Championships Silver Medalist, was an automatic qualifier after finishing third in his heat race in the 400m Hurdles at Stade de France.

Hodge was the fastest non-automatic qualifier in the Repechage Round and had to endure some nervous moments as she ran in Heat 1 and had to await the results of the other heats.

Running through injury

McMaster, who has been struggling with an injury, ran 49.24 in Heat 1, which was won by USA’s Rai Benjamin in 48.82. Second was Jamaica’s Jaheel Hyde in 49.08.

The main antagonists of McMaster are also through to the Semi-finals, including World Record Holder Karsten Warholm, Abderrahman Samba, Alison Dos Santos, and Roshawn Clarke, who have all run sub-49 seconds in qualifying.

“The main objective was to position myself to get a big Q, and don’t exert too much energy and try to preserve the leg as much [as possible] due to an injury,” McMaster stated after his Heat.

The Semi-finals are slated for Wednesday, August 7, 2024, from around 1:35 PM.

‘I’m super proud’- Hodge

Hodge, in her Olympic debut, had another shot for semi-final qualification after finishing 5^th in her Heat on Sunday. She finished second in Heat 1 of the Repechage Round this morning, clocking 22.94. The race was won by Canada’s Jacqueline Madogo in a time of 22.58. Third was Greece’s Polyniki Emmanouilidou.

Both of the non-automatic qualifiers came from Heat 1.

“It was a little bit stressful [awaiting the results of the other heats] but, to be honest, I was just dancing to the music in the crowd trying to get my mind off of it. I’m super proud that I have made it this far,” Hodge commented after the race.

The [British] Virgin Islander will be in action in the Women’s 200m Semi-finals around 2:45 PM today.