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UCLA’s Leach stumbles

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EUGENE, Ore. -- Nicole Leach of UCLA, the 2007 NCAA champion in the 400-meter hurdles and runner-up this year, stumbled out of contention when she hit the seventh hurdle of the day’s last preliminary heat. She couldn’t make up the lost time and did not advance.

Leach said the wind came up ‘and I tried to open my stride. I realized my leg was coming up and I hit the hurdle.’

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She said she hadn’t had a mishap like that since high school, and though she can take consolation from being young and likely having another chance in 2012, that wasn’t a lot of comfort Friday.

‘When you’re here and doing well and healthy you’d rather go for it,’ she said. ‘To not make the final over something like this is very disappointing.’

-- Helene Elliott

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