THOUGH THE FIELD lacked a Grant Holloway — a victim of unhappy financial negotiations — the hurdles final perhaps gained in that more than a few of the contenders saw a clear path to victory without the Olympic champion on the line.
In lane 3 was 12.93 man Freddie Crittenden, hoping to bounce back from a bad race in Bellinzona. Next to him in 4, Italian Lorenzo Ndele Simonelli, the European champion who failed to make the Paris final. In 5 was Paris silver medalist Daniel Roberts, and in 6, France’s Sasha Zhoya, who had PRed with his 13.10 in Zürich.
Roberts got out fastest, with Zhoya a hair behind at the first hurdle. Simonelli, Crittenden and Japan’s Shunsuke Izumiya stayed close.
Roberts hit hurdle 3 and then nailed 4 hard, losing his momentum and handing the lead to Zhoya. Simonelli made his claim on the second spot by midway while Zhoya fought off a late-race challenge from Cordell Tinch. The Frenchman pulled away to the win in 13.16, ahead of Simonelli’s 13.22. Crittenden leaned best to nab Tinch before the line, 13.24–13.27. Roberts faded to 8th in 13.44.
“It wasn’t my best race,” said Zhoya, who was born and raised in Australia. “A bit difficult in the beginning but the goal was to take the win this evening, so for that I’m happy. I was aiming for a good time but that will have to wait.”
Said Simonelli, “I wanted to win but I’m very happy to perform like this at the end of the season. I’m at the end of my energy.”
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