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GWI Photo Essays
6/10/2000 at Sacramento CA
Golden West Invitational
the ill-fated Mr. Blakely
If Fernanda Blakely could just stay in his lane on the far turn, he would be hailed as the season's phenom in the 400 meter dash.
Back in April in the Mobile AL Meet of Champions, the powerful Blount AL senior came out of obscurity with a blazing 45.99 victory, fastest in the nation in the last two years (since 1998 national champion Ato Modibo). But fate played an April Fool's joke when the red flag went up and Blakely was disqualified. Moments later he won the 200 in 21.03, fastest in the nation at that time.
Blakely at Mobile
Fast forward to Saturday June 10 in Sacramento -- the same drama plays out amazingly for the second time.
- Blakely is in an outside lane (# 8)
- Blakely is facing a great field of better known runners (US#1 Levar Norris of Texas is in lane 5)
- Blakely maintains the stagger around the far turn and cruises home with plenty to spare
- Blakely is disqualified for crossing the inside line of his lane on the far turn.
Blakely crossed the finish line in 46.29, with Otis Harris Jr of Mississippi, who moved up to first on the DQ, next in 46.70 and Norris 46.83.
Blakely at GWI
Apparently Blakely will have to wait for college to make amends because he was not entered in the Foot Locker Outdoor at Raleigh June 17 as of June 13.
