USA Today
June 22, 2013
DES MOINES — Reigning Olympic silver medalist Michael Tinsley, a Jackson State University alumnus, used his long strides to edge out a victory and set the world’s fastest time of 2013 in the 400-meter hurdles final. A competitive field kept the crowd guessing until the final 50 meters, where Tinsley crossed the finish line in 47.96 seconds and was joined by Kerron Clement’s 48.06 and Bershawn Jackson’s 48.09 on the medal stand.
“The race was just so fast today. … The gun went off, and all I remember is that we were there, coming down the homestretch,” Tinsley said. “I feel like a champ. I feel like a million bucks.”
Nike’s Johnny Dutch blasted off in the first 200 meters of the race and looked capable of recapturing the form that earned him back-to-back runner-up finishes in these championships in 2009 and 2010.
Instead, Tinsley pulled away, and Dutch fell back for a close fourth-place finish in 48.21.
Tinsley won the 2012 Olympic Trials, but earned his first title in the outdoor event on Saturday.
“I set the race up to come home strong,” Tinsley said.
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Wesley Peterson
wesley.peterson@jsums.edu