Culson cheered as he accepts 400-hurdles silver

His appearance on the podium came two days after he was edged out for the gold medal in the 400-meter hurdles in a come from behind victory by Jamaican Leford Green.

Green shot past Culson down the homestretch in Tuesday’s final, stunning and silencing the home crowd of nearly 12,000 who had turned out to cheer the Ponce native.

There was some speculation that the disappointed Culson may not appear for the medal ceremony Thursday, but he did and was rewarded with a chorus of cheers from island fans.

Culson, who won Puerto Rico’s first ever medal in a IAAF World Championships when he finished second in Berlin last summer, was favored to win gold at the ongoing Central American & Caribbean Games in Mayagüez. An anticipated showdown with Dominican rival Félix Sánchez, who placed fourth on Tuesday, did not take shape.

Green crossed the finish line first with a time of 48.47. Culson followed at 48.58 and was trailed by bronze medal winner Roxroy Cato, a Jamaican who covered the 400 meters in 49.62.

Félix Sánchez finished with a time of 50.08.