Texas A&M hurdler Infinite Tucker won the 400 metres hurdles at the 2019 SEC Outdoor Track and Field Championships with a dramatic finish, diving head first across the line to edge out his own team-mate.
The championships were held at John McDonnell Field in Fayetteville, Arkansas, from 9 to 11 May 2019. Tucker and Robert Grant, who had posted the fastest time in the country in the preliminary round, were level coming off the final hurdle.
Superman finish
A few strides from the line Tucker launched himself forward with his arms stretched out in front of him and landed on the track beyond the finish. The photo finish gave him the title in 49.38 seconds, with Grant second in 49.47.
Video of the finish spread widely online, with many viewers comparing the leap to Superman in flight. Tucker said afterwards that he was glad to win against strong opposition and that the team’s aim had been to collect as many points as possible, so it did not matter which of the Aggies finished first.
His coach, Pat Henry, joked that he had told Tucker diving does not get you there faster and that he should simply run through the line.
Is diving allowed?
It is. In athletics, a runner’s finish is measured when any part of the torso reaches the vertical plane of the finish line. A dive can move the torso forward at the last moment, but it carries a real risk of injury and usually costs speed in the final strides, which is why coaches rarely recommend it.
Sources: official results of the 2019 SEC Outdoor Track and Field Championships (Fayetteville, 9-11 May 2019), Texas A&M Athletics.