LONDON — Former Florida standout Kerron Clement, a two-time former champion, won the bronze medal in the 400-meter hurdles Wednesday at the world track and field championships
Karsten Warholm of Norway won the world title in the 400-meter hurdles, holding off Yasmani Copello of Turkey and Clement (UF, 2004-05) of the United States. TJ Holmes (2015-17), the USATF Outdoor Championships bronze medalist, capped a season of tremendous improvement with a fifth-place finish in the same final, missing fourth by 0.01 seconds.
The 21-year-old Warholm earned his first major title, and then looked up in amazement as the result showed on the giant screen.
The Norwegian won in 48.35 seconds, .14 seconds ahead of Copello. Clement, a two-time former champion, finished in 48.52.
Clement, 31, was seeking to become the only person to win three world golds in the event. His other titles were in 2007 and ’09. He captured Olympic gold in Brazil last summer.
“It’s definitely motivation for me,” said Clement, looking ahead to next year’s world championships and the 2020 Olympics. “Of course, a bronze medal is good. But it’s not gold. I will continue to work hard, keep pressing for the future. I have more legs beneath me-31 isn’t old for the 400 hurdles. I think as you get older in the hurdles, the better you get. It’s like a fine wine. I’m excited for my future.
“I’m very disappointed. I used my non-dominant leg off the last hurdle and that really cost me the gold medal. That’s the honest truth. If I’d kept my same leg off the last hurdle, I’d have gotten the gold medal. Switching legs, I didn’t have momentum over the last hurdle. That’s the reason I have the bronze medal.”
Soccer: Florida defeated Mississippi State 3-2 Wednesday in an exhibition match, as Briana Solis scored the winner with 1:19 remaining.
With the game tied at 2-2, the Gators mount one last attack with 90 seconds left in the game. The ball was fed out to Melanie Monteagudo on the right edge of the box. Monteagudo made a move to get around her defender. She fed in a pass with her left into Solis who took one touch before turning and firing a shot past the Bulldog keeper.
Monteagudo found the back of the net herself in the first half. After the opening goal by Mississippi State’s Kristen Malebranche, Florida raced back down the left flank and into the box. With the keeper trying to play the ball, it left plenty of time and space for Monteagudo. She curled a floating shot over the retreating defenders which found the top right corner of the net.
The Bulldogs answered to take a 2-1 lead heading into halftime.
After a scoreless first 20 minutes of the second half, a pass to Mayra Pelayo unlocked the Bulldog backline. She fired a shot that was parried away by the goalkeeper. One of the Mississippi State defenders attempted to clear the ball out of play but, it went in the back of the net to tie the game 2-2.
Florida will open up the regular season on the road when it travels to Boca Raton to take on FAU on August 18. The match is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.
Volleyball: Florida will open the 2017 season ranked in the top 15 of the American Volleyball Coaches Association Preseason Division I Top 25 Poll for a 26th consecutive year, the third-longest active streak in the nation.
F lorida’s streak runs all the way back to 1992, when it began the year ranked No. 12. Only Nebraska and Stanford boast longer streaks.
The Gators return five starters as well as their libero, in addition to bringing back 13 of their 14 letterwinners from an SEC championship-winning 2016 squad. Four of those returning starters — Rhamat Alhassan, Caroline Knop, Allie Monserez, Carli Snyder — earned AVCA All-America honors. UF boasts six seniors, the largest senior class in program history.
Last season’s team led the nation in hitting percentage for a second consecutive year. The Gators finished with a 27-4 overall record and a 16-2 record in SEC play, sharing the league crown with Missouri.
Florida will face Coastal Carolina in the annual Orange & Blue Debut on Aug. 19, in an exhibition match. This will also serve as Fan Day, which is free and open to the public. Single-match tickets are available now, and less than 85 season tickets are still available.
Group tickets are available for the season-opening match against Texas on Aug. 25. For tickets, call 352-375-4683 x6800 (Open M-F, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.)
