Sub 48 seconds PB at the IAAF Continental Cup in Split. 5 September 2010

Dai Greene produced a stunning victory representing Europe at the IAAF / VTB Bank Continental Cup in Split, Croatia on Saturday 4 September.

He stormed through the closing stages of the race, moving from third place into first as favourite Bershawn Jackson clattered the final hurdle and Dai finished very strongly to smash his personal best.

It has been 18 years since a British 400m hurdler has broken 48 seconds and Dai clocked 47.88 seconds at the Poljud Stadium, the same track where UK record-holder Kriss Akabusi struck gold at the World Championships in 1990.

Dai became the 37th member of the elite sub-48 club, and was only 6 hundredths of a seconds outside the British record of 47.82 seconds. He took the victory ahead of Javier Culson (Puerto Rico) in 48.08 and Bershawn Jackson, former World Champion (USA) who clocked 48.62 seconds.

Dai said afterwards:

“Bershawn has only been beaten by one other person, Kerron Clement, this season, so to be one of just two people to beat him feels good and gives me a lot of confidence. In Barcelona I was expected to win, but here I didn’t have the same pressure.”

“I usually run my best at Championships, so I think Malcolm (his coach) will be surprised with the 47.88. For years I’ve been intimidated by sub-48 guys, but now I’m one of them hopefully other athletes will look at me in the same way.”

Dai is now looking foward to the Commonwealth Games in October, with only three weeks until he leaves for the Preparation camp with Team Wales.