Nation's Top Two Hurdlers Side By Side Until Chukwukelu Gains Slight Advantage, Wins 110-Meter Hurdles Race In 13.53 Seconds

By Keenan Gray of DyeStat

Becky Holbrook photo

EUGENE, Ore. – While Andre Korbmacher was standing atop the podium stand, basking in the glory of winning a national title in the boys 110-meter hurdle last June at Nike Outdoor Nationals, Alexander Chukwukelu stood three spots below him in fourth.

As he watched Korbmacher take in his moment, all Chukwukelu could do was stand and applaud.

“He was the top dog last year,” Chukwukelu said. “He was whooping me every time.”

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Korbmacher showed he was the best when he put together a 13.44-second effort to claim the national title. Chukwukelu ran a solid effort, but it was well behind at 14.14 seconds. 

The hurdler from Forney, Texas left that race with plenty to think about. He knew he needed to make some changes; changes that were going to make him the best, whatever it took. 

Flash forward to this season, and Chukwukelu found himself in a much different position – he was the top dog of the 110 hurdles throughout the year.

Even with the nation’s No. 1 time of 13.32 seconds heading into Saturday’s final at Nike Outdoor Nationals at Hayward Field, Chukwukelu still felt he needed something to prove. 

Korbmacher, the No. 2 ranked hurdler this season, was the defending champion with a target on his back.

As the two lined up with each other in lanes six and seven, all eyes were drawn to the track to watch the nation’s top two hurdlers do battle for the Nike Outdoor Nationals title at Hayward Field. 

Out of the blocks, Korbmacher and Chukwukelu were side-by-side, clearing hurdles one by one down the homestretch.

The roar of the crowd grew ever so slightly over the last few meters as the two went wire-to-wire together. Chukwukelu gained a slight advantage and hit the tape first in 13.53 seconds. Korbmacher was second in 13.56.

Standing next to each other looking at results, the two embraced each other with a big hug, showing nothing but respect for one another. 

Call it a change of the guard moment for the North Forney TX senior if you will. Korbmacher had his moment last year; Chukwukelu got his one shining moment a year later.

“Last year, (Andre) inspired me,” Chukwukelu said. “He motivated me to push me to my limits…He’s teaching me something that I never knew. I lost enough to the point to where I know how to lose, and I know how to take it in and learn something and put it back on the track and handle it.”

While Chukwukelu would celebrate, all Korbmacher could do was tip his cap to him.

“Coming into it, Alex obviously had the faster PR and faster qualifying time, so I knew it was going to be a battle,” Korbmacher said. “It wasn’t the outcome I wanted but I put my all into it…I’m happy I got to come out here again and compete.”

The two are set to race at the USATF U20 Championships at Hayward Field in the coming weeks, where they both hope to race each other again in the final as they vie for another national title. 

“Having him by my side, not just as looking at him as my opponent, but looking at him as a friend,” Chukwekelu said. “It’s like a training partner because this whole meet is just a practice meet for U20s coming up. That’s our big deal. Having to race each other, again, is a blessing.”

Barlow OR’s Micah Perry was the only other finalist to break 14 seconds, running a lifetime best 13.95 seconds to finish in third.