Bailey sixth in men’s 400m final, Anning, Hibbert advance to finals

SAINT-DENIS, France – A sixth place finish in the men’s 400m final for Arkansas alum Chris Bailey highlighted track action for the Razorbacks at the Stade de France on Wednesday evening.

Amber Anning advanced to the final of the women’s 400m and Jaydon Hibbert qualified for the final of the men’s triple jump.

Bailey’s journey to the Paris Olympic final included a career best of 44.42 in his hometown of Atlanta in May, then equaling it during the Olympic Trials in June. Another career best followed in the semifinal of the Olympic 400m with a 44.31 performance.

In the final, stationed in lane 2, Bailey ran 44.58 for sixth place. His time is the second fastest ever for that place in an Olympic final.

American Quincy Hall won gold in the event with a time of 43.40, second fastest ever in an Olympic final behind the 43.03 world record set in 2016 by Wayde van Niekerk of South Africa.

British sprinter Matthew Hudson-Smith claimed silver in 43.44 while Zambia’s Muzala Samukonga picked up bronze with a 43.74. Jareem Richards of Trinidad & Tobago clocked 43.78 in fourth while Kirani James supplied 43.87 in fifth place.

The times for finishers 2-5 all established best marks for place in an Olympics.

Finishing behind Bailey were Nigeria’s Samuel Ogazi (44.73) and American Michael Norman (45.62).

Anning registered a career best time of 49.47 as runner-up in the third semifinal heat to advance to the Olympic final. She was just 0.06 off the British record set in 2013 by Christina Ohuruogu. Anning also edged closer to the fastest time by a UK sprinter in the Olympics, a 49.43 by Kathy Cook Smallwood from the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984.

Natalie Kaczmarek of Poland won the heat in 49.46 while Sada Williams of Barbados claimed a time qualifier for the final with a 49.89.

In the second heat Razorback Nickisha Pryce placed fourth in 50.77 and will not advance to the final. Marileidy Paulino of Dominica Republic won the heat in 49.21 over a 50.00 for American Alexis Holmes, who trains in Fayetteville.

The leading time of 49.08 in the semifinal belonged to Bahrain’s Salwa Ed Naser as she defeated Ireland’s Rhasidat Adeleke in the opening heat.

A mark of 55-9 (16.99) advanced Hibbert to the triple jump final as he finished third in Group B and was sixth overall.