McCorory 4th at Worlds in 400 meters

DAEGU, KOREA -— Twenty-one hundredths of a second. About one very long stride.

They're all that separated Francena McCorory from a spot on the medals stand on Day Three of the 13th World Championships of Track and Field.

The former Bethel High and Hampton University flash settled for fourth place in the women's 400 of the Worlds at Daegu Stadium with a 50.45 performance, just that mini-margin back of Russian bronze medalist Anastasiya Kapachinskaya's 50.24.

All this in a drama-packed race that saw Amantle Montsho bring joy - and a first-ever gold medal - to her African homeland of Botswana by fighting off the desperation homestretch charge of America's Allyson Felix, 49.56 to 49.59.

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400m Women Final WC Athletics Daegu 2011
Amantle Montsho BOT 49.56 (NR)
Allyson Felix USA 49.59 (PB)
Anastasiya Kapachinskaya RUS 50.24
Francena McCorory USA 50.45 
Antonina Krivoshapka RUS 50.66
Shericka Williams JAM 50.79
Sanya Richards-Ross USA 51.32 
Novlene Williams-Mills JAM 52.89

Hampton's McCorory ready for the race of her life at IAAF World Championships

DAEGU, KOREA - Francena McCorory has been on some big stages, but this is the biggest.

Back in 2006, Bethel senior McCorory blazed to a national indoor high school 400-meter record of 51.93.

In 2010, Hampton University senior McCorory lowered the American indoor 400 record to 50.54. Great going, sure, but nothing quite up to her current achievements.

The 22-year-old Hampton resident is poised to run for the gold - or a medal of any hue - in the women's 400-meter final Monday night.

Looking powerful and confident, McCorory blazed to a career-best clocking of 50.24 taking her semifinal. USA teammates Allyson Felix, a three-time winner of the World 200 title, and 2009 Worlds 400 champion Sandra Richards-Ross, join McCorory in the eight-runner final. Felix ran 50.36, Richards-Ross 50.66.

"No problems, felt great," said McCorory. But a real problem to all three Americans may be veteran Amantle Montsho of Botswana, the fastest of all heat winners at 50.13.

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Hampton's McCorory breezes into semifinals of 400 meters at world track championships

DAEGU, Korea -— "I feel confident, really good," beamed Francena McCorory.

The ex-Bethel High and Hampton University flash had just breezed a lap around Daegu Stadium Saturday night in a slowish 52.18 seconds and was delighted with her effort, nowhere close to her all-time best of 50.29.

Why the happiness?

Because it advanced her into the Sunday night 400-meter semifinals at the 13th World Championships of Track and Field with a minimum of wasted energy. She placed second in her heat to Amantle Montsho of Botswana, who ran 50.95, and thus was one of four Americans cruising into the semis. This is the biggest meet of McCorory's track and field career and she's considered a definite medal prospect.



400m Women Heat 4 WC Athletics Daegu 2011
Amantle Montsho BOT 50.95 Q
Francena McCorory USA 52.18 Q
Lee McConnell GBR 52.75 Q
Maris Mägi EST 52.93 Q
Norma González COL 53.35
Aymeé Martínez CUB 53.67
Ambwene Simukonda MAW 54.81 (NR)

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Former Hampton U. star Francena McCorory close second to Allyson Felix in 400M at U.S. Track Championships

Allyson Felix won her first U.S. title in the 400, topping former Hampton University's Francena McCorory with a time of 50.40 to 50.49.  Debbie Dunn, Norfolk State University alum finished third for a ticket to the IAAF World Championships Aug. 27-Sept. 4 in Daegu, South Korea.  Dunn posted a time of 50.70.



Allyson Felix extends self, wins U.S. title at 400

Eugene, Ore. -- Allyson Felix powered down the home stretch to capture the women's 400 meters at the U.S. championships Saturday, setting up the possibility she might compete in two events at the world championships this summer.

Felix already has a spot in the 200 as the defending world champion. She has yet to decide whether she will attempt the 200-400 double at the worlds in Daegu, South Korea, in late August.

Going double the distance she normally runs, Felix got stronger as the race went along Saturday and held off Francena McCorory at the finish, winning in 50.40 seconds to become the first woman to win national titles in the 100, 200 and 400 over a career. Debbie Dunn (Norfolk State) was third.

The 200-400 double would not be easy to pull off in South Korea, given all the rounds and the lack of recovery time between them. That's why the decision will be a difficult one for Felix and her coach, Bobby Kersee.

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Hampton's McCorory takes third NCAA title in 400 meters

Hampton University's American and Collegiate Indoor record holder Francena McCorory, won her third NCAA National Championship title in the 400 meters on Friday. The senior All-American is from Bethel High School, Hampton, Virginia.

(photo by Mark Sutton)

EUGENE, Oregon – Hampton University senior Francena McCorory made her final collegiate track meet unforgettable, winning her third NCAA championship by outracing her competitors in the 400-meter dash late Friday night at famed Hayward Field.

McCorory ran a season-best time of 50.69 seconds to take her third title in the event – her first in the outdoor season. The Bethel High graduate also won the indoor 400 in 2009 with a 51.54, before repeating that title in March 2010, setting the American record with a 50.54. McCorory's title is also the fifth NCAA Division I crown in HU history; former Lady Pirate Yvette Lewis, who attended Denbigh High and then Menchville, won a pair of NCAA triple-jump titles, taking the indoor crown in 2006 and the outdoor title in 2007.

The Pirates sophomore sprinter Reggie Dixon ran a 10.39 in the 100-meter dash final to finish seventh. Jeff Demps of Florida won in 9.96. Dixon, from Plainfield, N.J., ran the seventh-fastest preliminary time in the 100-meter dash, turning in a 10.24 to advance to the final. The Hampton men's team finished the meet tied for 60th and the women's team was tied for 26th place with Georgia and Hawaii-Manoa.



Francena McCorory of Hampton Breaks the American and Collegiate Indoor Record with an amazing run of 50.54 at the 2010 NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships earlier this year.