American hurdler Freddie Crittenden made a calculated decision during his 110m hurdles heat that ultimately paid off in the World Athletics Championships. In a surprising move, Crittenden appeared to jog through the race, finishing nearly five seconds behind the heat winner. This raised eyebrows among spectators until Crittenden later revealed his strategic reasoning.
Crittenden explained that he was feeling some discomfort before the race and chose to conserve his energy to avoid risking injury. With the new repechage system in place, athletes who do not automatically qualify in their heats have a second opportunity to advance to the semifinals. Crittenden took full advantage of this second chance.
In the repechage race, Crittenden delivered an impressive performance, crossing the finish line in 13.42 seconds to secure his spot in the next round. His decision to prioritize his well-being in the initial heat proved to be a wise one as he successfully advanced to the semifinals.
Joining Crittenden in the next round is Spain's Asier Martínez, who finished just 0.04 seconds behind Crittenden in the repechage race. Both athletes demonstrated resilience and determination in securing their spots in the semifinals of the 110m hurdles event.
