Pistorius finishes second in 400m

South African Oscar Pistorius (right) and American Calvin Smith pose for photographers at the end of a 400m race at the Lignano Stadium, near Udine in northern Italy.

South African Oscar Pistorius (right) and American Calvin Smith pose for photographers at the end of a 400m race at the Lignano Stadium, near Udine in northern Italy.

Published Jul 18, 2012

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Lignano - South African double-amputee sprinter Oscar Pistorius finished second in a 400m race in Italy on Tuesday, his final tuneup for the London Olympics.

Pistorius clocked 46.56 seconds - well off the personal best of 45.07 he ran at the same meet last year - to finish behind Calvin Smith of the United States. Smith won in 45.52.

Pistorius will become the first amputee track athlete to compete at the Olympics after being selected by South Africa to run in London.

Pistorius won last year's race in Lignano to qualify for the world championships. This time, he finished ahead of four other runners, including Jamaicans Ricardo Cunningham and Javere Bell. - Sapa-AP

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