Photo:David Ramos/Getty
David Ramos/Getty
A cart carrying 200 meter sprinters to their semifinal race at the World Championships in Budapest on Friday crashed into another cart, injuring Jamaica’s Andrew Hudson.In an aerial video of the crash, the 26-year-old Texas native, who runs for Jamaica in honor of his father, was seen rubbing his eyes and wincing immediately following the accident.The 200 meter favorite, American Noah Lyles, was also in the cart, and could be heard telling authorities that Hudson thought he had glass shards in his eyes. A volunteer from the other cart was thrown from the vehicle but was uninjured, World Athletics said,according to the Associated Press.
In light of the incident, organizers decided to advance Hudson to the 200 meter final on Friday afternoon, expanding the race to nine competitors.
“I did the best I could do,” Hudson said per the AP. “I was sitting in the middle of the room for like 20 minutes, trying to have a decision if I was going to compete or not. I worked hard to be here. And even under circumstances, everybody has hurdles in life. If I can run I’m going to try my best. So I tried.”
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Lyles, who won the semifinal heat finishing in 19.76, had the fastest time going into the final.
“I think everybody was really worried about him,” Lyles said about Hudson. “We just wanted to make sure that he got his chance to run, that everybody got their fair chance to see the hard work that they put in.”
On the cusp of the final, Hudson was able to maintain perspective about the freak event.
“It was scary,” the former Texas Tech athlete said, per the AP. “It’s my eyesight. That’s more important. I’m not going to run track forever, but it just happens.”
source: people.com
