Kerron Clement

Kerron Clement (born 31 October 1985 in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago) is an American sprinter who holds the indoor world record for the 400m sprint.

Clement's family moved to the United States in 1998, where he became a successful high school athlete at La Porte, Texas winning both 110 and 400 metres hurdles at the USATF Youth Athletics Championships.

Clement became a U.S. citizen in June 2004. In July 2004 he won the gold medal in the 400 metres hurdles in an IAAF World Junior Championships record time of 48.51 seconds in Grosseto Italy. Clement also ran a leg for the US 4x400m relay team and set a world junior record of 3:01.09. He also won the National Collegiate Athletic Association championships in the 400mH.

On March 12 2005, representing the University of Florida, he broke the indoor world record for the 400m sprint at the NCAA indoor championships in Fayetteville, Arkansas with a time of 44.57 seconds. His split at 200m was 21.08 seconds. The record was held for ten years previously by Michael Johnson at 44.63 seconds. Afterwards Clement anchored Florida’s 4x400 indoor meter relay to a collegiate record of 3:03.51.

Clement set a personal best and 2005 world leading performance in the 400m hurdles with a 47.24 seconds; winning the 2005 US outdoor track and field title at Carson California. This was the fastest time posted for the 400m hurdles in 7 years. Clement faded during the world outdoor championships in Helsinki Finland and did not win a medal, finishing fourth.

Clement earned a global gold medal in the 400m hurdles at the 2007 World Championship in Osaka. His time of 47.61 seconds was a seasons best.

Clement qualified in the 400m hurdles for the 2008 Summer Olympics on June 29, 2008 at the Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon.cite news
accessdate=2008-08-16
url=http://sc.lpisd.org/education/components/whatsnew/default.php?sectiondetailid=4&id=1913&viewType=detail&PHPSESSID=9dc5cdced178724018b4863908b3bd58
title=2003 LPHS graduate Kerron Clement headed for Beijing Olympics
date=June 30, 2008
work=News and Spotlights
publisher=La Porte ISD] Clement, along with the other two American qualifiers, advanced to the finals of 400m hurdles, held on August 18, 2008.cite news
accessdate=2008-08-17
url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080818/ts_alt_afp/oly2008opener
title=Americans look to clear Olympics medal hurdle
author=Guyer, Julian
date=August 17, 2008
work=Yahoo! News] Clement was part of a medal-sweep for the United States, winning silver in the 400 meter hurdles.

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