jul.27.2009

TRINIDAD and Tobago’s Josanne Lucas shocked the world with a brilliant performance in the Women’s 400m hurdles final to take the gold medal at the fifth stop of the Alma Athle Tour in Reims, France.

Lucas continues to develop as a hurdler by leaps and bounds, setting a new national record with a blistering effort that has placed her on the world stage.

The 25-year-old Alabama-based athlete smashed her record of 55.24 set in Belem, Brazil, in May, by more than a second, crossing the finish line in 54.17. Jamaican Nickiesha Wilson was second in 55.46.

The race was Lucas’ tenth for 2009, bettering her fifth place finish in Lausanne (55.36) and seventh place in the Golden Gala in Rome. Lucas backed up her recent string of good result with a fourth place finish in the 400m hurdles at the Meeting Areva in France.

She was just .16 seconds out of the medals, clocking 54.88.

Lucas is now second in the 2009 400m hurdles list and a real challenger for honours at the 12th IAAF World Championships in Berlin, Germany from August 15.

Lucas, the national 100m hurdles and 400m hurdles champion has a season best time of 12.99 in the 100m hurdles but is expected to be a surprise in the 400m hurdles event.