Track & Field: Susanna Kallur Pulls Out of World Indoors With Injury

EricMar 8, 2008

Susanna Kallur, the world indoor 60-meter hurdle record-holder, injured her hamstring during warm-ups, and was forced to withdraw from the on-going semi-final races which she was certain to make the final.

Kallur got a hemmorrage in her right hamstring on the warm-up track whilst making starting attempts, and was advised by Swedish doctor Sverker Nilsson, who came quickly to her aid, to call it a day.

Swedish Press Secretary Fredrik Trahan stated that the injury risk was too great, pointing to the Olympic Games being of greater importance than the World Indoor Championships.

"She felt that it hurt in the hamstring," said her coach Karin Torneklint to Swedish tabloid Aftonbladet. "It's not a catastrophe, but it is sad."

"She was warming up and felt that it was painful in the backside—something that shouldn't have happened. It isn't so serious, but it's enough to prevent her from running."

Kallur believed that contending for a medal was out of the question when the injury occured, and that she would be forced to sit out the semi-final.

"She is depressed, and it is clear that it is depressing," explained Tornklint.

"It is probably good that she'll be out about 20 days. But this is the last competition, then it's a period of rest and to begin training again."

Kallur has endured injury-riddled seasons in the past, with the previous Olympic year, 2004, no exception.

Kallur had injured her hamstring early that season also, and was forced to miss valuable training time whilst her competitors began loading up on experience. Kallur, who did not make the Olympic final, set a personal record at the Games in Athens, nonetheless, and is not worried about the small stepback she is now facing.

American Lolo Jones, the second-fastest woman in the world this season, now becomes the heavy favorite following a 7.82-second victory in her semi-final.

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Qual. rule: first 4 of each heat (Q) qualified.

Heat 1 08 March 2008 - 18:10

Position Lane Bib Athlete Country Mark . React

1 6 254 LoLo Jones USA 7.82 Q . 0.192

2 5 66 Josephine Onyia ESP 8.00 Q . 0.269

3 7 190 Yuliya Kondakova RUS 8.01 Q . 0.188

4 2 242 Yevgeniya Snihur UKR 8.06 Q (PB) 0.130

5 4 110 Micol Cattaneo ITA 8.10 . 0.225

6 3 234 Nevin Yanit TUR 8.19 . 0.251

7 8 76 Cindy Billaud FRA 8.19 . 0.212

8 1 219 Miriam Bobková SVK 8.24 . 0.236