The first round saw no-one run faster than 14.1. On the next day, in the
wet and cold (14°C), Mikhailov won the first semi in 13.9w, with
Willie Davenport the US Trials winner back in seventh, impeded by an
injured thigh. Lindgren won the other semi-final, also in 13.9, with
Jones easing through in 14.0, and Ottoz the slowest qualifier for the
final with 14.1 (14.12).
As in the three previous finals, the gold was won at the start. Jones,
reputed to be the fastest starter in the world, was almost a metre clear
at the first hurdle. Lindgren closed all the way, and was fractionally
ahead coming off the last hurdle. But Jones’s speed (9.4 for 100y) was
too much for Lindgren, who lost a little ground by leaning for the line
too early. Behind him Mikhailov and Ottoz closed rapidly, with the
Italian – for once without his trademark sunglasses – finishing fastest
of all for fourth, a metre behind Lindgren. For Jones, it was the final
outdoor race of his career.
USA
URS
ITA
IND
FRA
GER
CUB
SWE
JPN
GBR
NIG
UGA
PUR
NRH
PAK
ARG
IVC
CAN
TUR
TWN
BEL
GRE
MAL
IRQ