Graduate David King delighted with top-six finish in first global final after tie-break drama at IAAF World Indoor Athletics Champs

21 March 2022

University of Bath graduate David King reached his first global championships final in dramatic fashion as he finished a superb sixth in the 60m hurdles at the IAAF World Indoor Athletics Championships in Belgrade, Serbia.

King, who had returned to the Team Bath Sports Training Village during the indoor season to finalise his preparations for the event, continued his fine form by equalling his personal best of 7.57 in his semi-final.

That equalled the time set by Japan’s Shusei Nomoto in his race, meaning their names had to go into a bag for a tie-break to determine who would progress to the final. It was King’s name that was drawn out and he went on to clock 7.62 from lane one to claim a top-six finish overall.

“It’s been a crazy day and a rollercoaster of emotions but I’m super happy to come out with luck on my side,” said the Sports Performance graduate, who is now based in the United States and coached by Tim O’Neil. “I would have taken sixth in the world and a PB in the semis every day of the week, this is what I train for.”

Australian Nick Andrews, who trained with King at the STV ahead of the championships, was fifth in his 60m hurdles heat in 7.75, just outside his personal best set earlier this season.

Click here to find out more about the athletics programme at the University of Bath.

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