Anderson takes shot at Worlds
Aug 28, 2011 (Menafn - Lewiston Tribune - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --Jeshua Anderson isn't known for vivid displays of emotion or attitude, but his coach has ways of measuring the hurdler's self-confidence. And he believes Anderson is entering his first World Championships in a good frame of mind.
Two months after an astonishing victory in the U.S. Championships, the former Washington State track athlete faces prelims tonight (Pacific time) in the men's 400-meter hurdles at the world meet in Daegu, South Korea.
Washington State hurdles coach Mark Macdonald, who continues to work with Anderson in his postcollegiate career, noticed something different about the athlete's recent easy victory in the World University Games in Shenzen, China.
"He came off that 10th hurdle, pulled away from everybody and kind of eased up and looked around, kind of sending a message of how easy it was," Macdonald said last week before embarking for South Korea to join Anderson. "Jesh never showboats or puts people down, but he sometimes likes to show how easy it is."
Anderson won't expect this meet to be easy, but only one runner in the field has posted a better time this year. South African star L.J. van Zyl's top mark in 2011 is 47.66 seconds, and he is followed by the top three finishers in the U.S. meet: Anderson and Bershawn Jackson at 47.93 and 2008 Olympic champion Angelo Taylor at 47.94.
Also entered is defending world champion Kerron Clement of the U.S., whose best time this year is 48.74.
"There are maybe six guys that are all pretty equal," Macdonald said. "So whoever runs well could win the whole thing."
Anderson is having a sensational year, starting with an NCAA title in June that left him 3-for-4 in national outdoor crowns as a Cougar in his favorite event. Then he stunned the U.S. field later that month, edging Jackson in a photo finish. The top-3 placing secured his first berth at Worlds, following back-to-back fifth-place showings at the annual U.S. meet.
Then a long training period was interrupted by an unscheduled rest.
"Probably five or six weeks ago, he was getting tired and even kind of thinking, 'I wish it was over already,' " Macdonald said. "But he took a full week of nothing, just rested, then started training again. And training really well. And I thought the World University Games went great. He feels strong, fresh and fast."
Another former WSU runner, Bernard Lagat, will compete in the 5,000-meter run, whose prelims are Wednesday (Pacific time).
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