FILE – Robyn Brown, right, competes in the women’s 400 meter hurdles during the OC Classic at JSerra Catholic High School on May 07, 2022 in San Juan Capistrano, California. Katharine Lotze/Getty Images/AFP
MANILA, Philippines-Robyn Lauren Brown met a similar fate with fellow full hurdler Eric Cray by finishing seventh in her race for an early exit at the ongoing 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
The Asian champion in the women’s 400m hurdles crossed the line in 56.83 seconds, faster than her 57.50 clocking during the continental finals in Bangkok last month, but not enough to carry her to the semifinal phase.
Jamaica’s Janieve Russel timed 54.53 seconds in topping the second heat where the Filipino-American Brown belonged, beating American Anna Cockrell (54.68) and Panama’s Gianna Woodruff (55.31).
Canada’s Savannah Sutherland checked in at fourth (55.85), joining the medalists to the semifinal heats late Tuesday.
Cray, the former Asian champion in the men’s 400m hurdles and current Southeast Asian Games record-holder, likewise headed toward the gates on Saturday after winding up seventh in his preliminary heat.
FILE – The Philippines’ Robyn Brown celebrates after winning the bronze medal in the women’s 400m hurdles final during the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) in My Dinh National Stadium, Hanoi on May 17, 2022. (Photo by Ye Aung Thu / AFP)
The last man standing for Team Philippines in the biggest track and field spectacle in the world is pole vaulter EJ Obiena, who is scheduled to troop to the field during the elimination round of 35 competitors from 23 countries on Wednesday.
Obiena, ranked No. 3 in the world, made history as the first Filipino to reach the podium in the worlds with a bronze medal last year in the Eugene, Oregon version of the global meet.
The current Asian champion and record-holder of six meters has no intention of again winding up third behind world champion Armand Duplantis of Sweden and American Chris Nilsen in the finals come Saturday (Aug. 26).
Duplantis, also the reigning Olympic gold medalist, owns the world standard of 6.22 meters, way ahead of the No.2 Nilsen and Obiena for points accumulated in the world placings.