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2007 World Championships in Athletics Osaka, Japan

2007 11th IAAF World Championships - Osaka - Men's 400m

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Details: Parent Category: World Championships in Athletics; Category: 2007 World Championships in Athletics Osaka, Japan; Last Updated: 07 December 2020; Hits: 135

Host City: Osaka, Japan

Format: First round (First 3 & 3 fastest to semi-finals) (Aug 28)

Dates: 24 August - 2 September 2007

Format: Semi-finals (First 2 & 2 fastest to final) (Aug 29)

Nations participating: 200

Athletes participating: 1,978

Main venue: Nagai Stadium

Overview by IAAF

A lifetime best of 43.50 in Stockholm just before the championships showed the condition of defending champion Wariner. The American easily won both heat and semi-final. Taylor and Merritt were the other semi-final winners, suggesting that the three medals would travel America’s way. Indeed the standard of the heats was higher than ever with marks of 45.44, 45.47 and 45.50 not good enough for a place in the semi-finals, from which Commonwealth Champion Steffensen was eliminated, despite running 44.95. Merritt, with Wariner in his sights, was just ahead at halfway in the final thanks to a second 100 of 10.11. However, Wariner produced a superb third 100m of 10.66 to lead by a metre at 300m. He flowed imperiously to a five-metre win in a personal best of 43.45, and third place on the world all-time list. Merritt produced his first sub-44 clocking with 43.96, while Taylor held off Brown for the bronze. For the second World Championships, the Bahamian placed fourth with a national record. In Helsinki it was 44.48 and Osaka 44.45.

The men's 400 metres at the 2007 World Championships in Athletics was held at the Nagai Stadium on 28, 29 and 31 August.

	400m			*31 August*
	Final
Event report: Men’s 400m Final American number two LaShawn Merritt had promised he was not in the race to be second best to anyone and he made a bold attempt at making good his words. But Olympic and World champion, Jeremy Wariner, was in a different class and went away down the straight, defending his title in a personal best 43.45. That time moves Wariner up one place in the World all-time list to be third in his own right, ahead of Quincy Watts. Only Michael Johnson and Butch Reynolds have run faster. “I had a great finish,” commented Wariner. “I knew I could set a PB. I’m fulfilling step by step all my goals. The world record, it will come when it comes. Today means a lot to me.” Merritt was rewarded for his temerity with a personal best 43.96 for silver while the 2000 Olympic 400m hurdles champion, Angelo Taylor, also USA, took bronze. They did it at the Olympics but this was the first 400m clean sweep for the US at a World Championships. “I need to stay more relaxed in the last 100m,” said Merritt. “I must not tighten up on the home stretch but that is what I did.” “I just tried to run my own race,” said the bronze medallist. “But got out too fast and got to pay for that in the last 100m.” Wariner had run the first half of the previous rounds conservatively, but not in the final. As they entered the back straight, Merritt on his inside was matching him stride for stride with Taylor clear in third. With 200m to go Merritt attempted to get on terms and as they entered the final straight was on the defending champion’s shoulder. From here on in, Wariner is normally untouchable and this was to prove no exception. Forging ahead with his usual composure he increased his lead over Merritt who could only glance occasionally at his team-mate going away. Behind the medallists Christopher Brown of the Bahamas ran a fine race and was rewarded with a national record of 44.45. Osaka 2007 News Team/mb
1	Jeremy Wariner	USA	31 Jan 84	43.45
2	LaShawn Merritt	USA	27 Jun 86	43.96
3	Angelo Taylor	USA	29 Dec 78	44.32
4	Chris Brown	BAH	15 Oct 78	44.45
5	Leslie Djhone	FRA	18 Mar 81	44.59
6	Tyler Christopher	CAN	3 Oct 83	44.71
7	Johan Wissman	SWE	2 Nov 82	44.72
8	Avard Moncur	BAH	2 Nov 78	45.40
	Semifinals			*29 August*

	Heat 1
1	Angelo Taylor	USA	29 Dec 78	44.45	Q
2	Johan Wissman	SWE	2 Nov 82	44.56	Q
3	Avard Moncur	BAH	2 Nov 78	44.86	q
4	Nery Brenes	CRC	25 Sep 85	45.14
5	Sean Wroe	AUS	18 Mar 85	45.25
6	Alleyne Francique	GRN	6 Jun 76	45.41
7	Arismendy Peguero	DOM	7 Aug 80	45.54
8	Michael Blackwood	JAM	29 Aug 76	45.60
	Heat 2
1	Jeremy Wariner	USA	31 Jan 84	44.34	Q
2	Chris Brown	BAH	15 Oct 78	44.52	Q
3	Ato Stephens	TTO	19 Jun 79	45.12
4	Gary Kikaya	COD	4 Feb 80	45.14
5	Ricardo Chambers	JAM	7 Oct 84	45.18
6	David Gillick	IRL	9 Jul 83	45.37
7	California Molefe	BOT	12 Mar 80	45.47
8	William Collazo	CUB	31 Aug 86	45.54
	Heat 3
1	LaShawn Merritt	USA	27 Jun 86	44.31	Q
2	Leslie Djhone	FRA	18 Mar 81	44.46	Q
3	Tyler Christopher	CAN	3 Oct 83	44.47	q
4	John Steffensen	AUS	30 Aug 82	44.95
5	Andrae Williams	BAH	11 Jul 83	45.40
6	Tim Benjamin	GBR	2 May 82	46.17
7	Young Talkmore Nyongani	ZIM	2 Sep 83	46.23
	Sanjay Ayre	JAM	19 Jun 80	DNF
	Heats			*28 August*
Event report: Men’s 400m 1st Round Jeremy Wariner safely negotiated the opening round of the 400m, breaking as he hit the line first in his heat in 45.10. His compatriot Lionel Harry, third in the US trials, was not so lucky, pulling up at 350m and limping off with suspected cramp. In the pool for the 4x400m, his place may now be in jeopardy. German champion and European indoor silver, Bastian Swillims, also failed to advance, despite setting a personal best 45.44. Other than that, it was a morning without incident for the quarter milers, the track giving some indication of what to expect when Chris Brown of the Bahamas effortlessly came within 0.02 of his PB in the first heat. Four national records, seven PBs and 12 season’s bests were a rich harvest for just one round, leading to speculation about what Wariner might do when the running gets serious. LaShawn Merritt and Angelo Taylor make up what could well be an American clean sweep while Gary Kikaya (COD), Ricardo Chambers (JAM), Tyler Christopher (CAN), Sanjay Ayre (JAM) and John Steffensen (AUS) encountered no problems. Osaka 2007 News Team/mb
	Heat 1
1	Chris Brown	BAH	15 Oct 78	44.50	Q
2	John Steffensen	AUS	30 Aug 82	44.82	Q
3	Arismendy Peguero	DOM	7 Aug 80	44.92	Q
4	Bastian Swillims	GER	9 Dec 82	45.44
5	Rennie Quow	TTO	25 Aug 87	45.70
6	Marcin Marciniszyn	POL	7 Sep 82	45.83
7	Dimitrios Regas	GRE	17 Sep 86	46.22
8	Takeshi Fujiwara	ESA	5 Aug 85	46.92
	Heat 2
1	Jeremy Wariner	USA	31 Jan 84	45.10	Q
2	Avard Moncur	BAH	2 Nov 78	45.27	Q
3	David Gillick	IRL	9 Jul 83	45.35	Q
4	Martyn Rooney	GBR	3 Apr 87	45.47
5	Lewis Banda	ZIM	16 Sep 82	45.47
6	Brice Panel	FRA	13 Jun 83	46.02
7	Felix Martinez	PUR	4 Feb 85	46.86
8	Abdulla Mohamed Hussein	SOM	7 Dec 87	50.54
9	Herman Lopez	NCA	12 Feb 85	50.72
	Heat 3
1	Alleyne Francique	GRN	6 Jun 76	44.95	Q
2	Leslie Djhone	FRA	18 Mar 81	45.17	Q
3	Ricardo Chambers	JAM	7 Oct 84	45.34	Q
4	Andrew Steele	GBR	19 Sep 84	45.54
5	Rafal Wieruszewski	POL	24 Feb 81	45.94
6	Carlos Santa	DOM	7 Jan 78	45.99
7	Clemens Zeller	AUT	2 Jul 84	46.06
	Yuzo Kanemaru	JPN	18 Sep 87	DNF
	Heat 4
1	LaShawn Merritt	USA	27 Jun 86	44.78	Q
2	Johan Wissman	SWE	2 Nov 82	44.94	Q
3	Andrae Williams	BAH	11 Jul 83	45.31	Q
4	Young Talkmore Nyongani	ZIM	2 Sep 83	45.40	q
5	Eric Milazar	MRI	1 Jun 75	46.55
6	Andres Silva	URU	27 Mar 86	46.79
7	Dalibor Spasovski	MKD	9 Jul 82	48.63
8	Karar Al-Abodi	IRQ	8 Aug 86	48.95
	Heat 5
1	Gary Kikaya	COD	4 Feb 80	45.21	Q
2	Sanjay Ayre	JAM	19 Jun 80	45.28	Q
3	Tim Benjamin	GBR	2 May 82	45.44	Q
4	Chris Lloyd	DMA	10 Oct 80	45.46
5	Vladislav Frolov	RUS	24 Jul 80	45.69
6	Ioan Vieru	ROU	4 Jan 79	46.78
7	Mathieu Gnaligo	BEN	13 Dec 86	47.51
8	Nicolaverne Palanca	ANG	15 Nov 88	48.60
	Heat 6
1	Nery Brenes	CRC	25 Sep 85	45.01	Q
2	Angelo Taylor	USA	29 Dec 78	45.13	Q
3	William Collazo	CUB	31 Aug 86	45.29	Q
4	California Molefe	BOT	12 Mar 80	45.36	q
5	Michael Blackwood	JAM	29 Aug 76	45.44	q
6	Yuki Yamaguchi	JPN	22 Feb 84	46.28
7	Jonathon Lavers	GIB	5 Sep 86	47.97
8	Ivano Bucci	SMR	1 Dec 86	48.07
	Ali Babiker Nagmeldin	SUD	22 Feb 86	DNF
	Heat 7
1	Tyler Christopher	CAN	3 Oct 83	45.15	Q
2	Ato Stephens	TTO	19 Jun 79	45.22	Q
3	Sean Wroe	AUS	18 Mar 85	45.39	Q
4	Daniel Dabrowski	POL	23 Sep 83	45.50
5	Andrea Barberi	ITA	15 Jan 79	45.74
6	Dimitrios Gravalos	GRE	18 Apr 84	46.94
7	Moses Kamut	VAN	7 Jul 82	48.90
	Lionel Larry	USA	14 Sep 86	DNF

Startlist

Heat 1 28 AUG 2007 10:10

Order / Lane	Bib	ATHLETE	COUNTRY	PB	SB 2007
2	334	John Steffensen	AUS	44.73	44.92
3	500	Takeshi Fujiwara	ESA	47.75	47.75
4	651	Dimítrios Régas	GRE	45.11	46.55
5	352	Chris Brown	BAH	44.48	44.85
6	1050	Renny Quow	TTO	45.35	45.35
7	491	Arismendy Peguero	DOM	45.34	45.34
8	897	Marcin Marciniszyn	POL	45.54	45.77
9	626	Bastian Swillims	GER	45.62i	45.62i

Heat 2 28 AUG 2007 10:17

Order / Lane	Bib	ATHLETE	COUNTRY	PB	SB 2007
1	351	Avard Moncur	BAH	44.45	45.12
2	571	Brice Panel	FRA	45.54	45.54
3	1001	Abdulla Mohamed Hussein	SOM	51.02	51.07
4	1166	Lewis Banda	ZIM	44.58	45.54
5	915	Félix Martínez	PUR	45.92	45.92
6	1151	Jeremy Wariner	USA	43.50	43.50
7	684	David Gillick	IRL	45.23	45.23
8	595	Martyn Rooney	GBR	45.35	45.92
9	846	Hermán López	NCA	49.81	49.81

Heat 3 28 AUG 2007 10:24

Order / Lane	Bib	ATHLETE	COUNTRY	PB	SB 2007
2	905	Rafal Wieruszewski	POL	45.56	46.47
3	489	Carlos Santa	DOM	45.05	46.17
4	658	Alleyne Francique	GRN	44.47	45.36
5	737	Yuzo Kanemaru	JPN	45.41	45.64
6	713	Ricardo Chambers	JAM	44.62	44.62
7	561	Leslie Djhone	FRA	44.64	45.01
8	345	Clemens Zeller	AUT	45.83	45.83
9	596	Andrew Steele	GBR	45.31	45.31

Heat 4 28 AUG 2007 10:31

Order / Lane	Bib	ATHLETE	COUNTRY	PB	SB 2007
1	349	Andrae Williams	BAH	44.90	45.26
2	1037	Johan Wissman	SWE	45.03	45.03
3	1080	Andrés Silva	URU	45.02	45.89
4	1120	LaShawn Merritt	USA	44.06	44.06
5	686	Karar A.M. Al Abbody	IRQ
6	1168	Young Talkmore Nyongani	ZIM	44.96	45.61
7	834	Dalibor Spasovski	MKD	48.71	48.71
8	381	Gakologewang L. Masheto	BOT	45.41	45.41
9	842	Eric Milazar	MRI	44.69	46.03

Heat 5 28 AUG 2007 10:38

Order / Lane	Bib	ATHLETE	COUNTRY	PB	SB 2007
1	584	Timothy Benjamin	GBR	44.56	45.28
2	451	Gary Kikaya	COD	44.10	44.60
3	313	Nicolau Palanca	ANG	48.43	48.43
4	486	Chris Lloyd	DMA	45.40	45.40
5	932	Ioan Lucian Vieru	ROU	45.60	46.10
6	706	Sanjay Ayre	JAM	44.92	44.98
7	954	Vladislav Frolov	RUS	45.09	45.63
8	366	Mathieu Gnanligo	BEN	45.89	45.89
9	787	Hamdan Odha Al-Bishi	KSA	44.66

Heat 6 28 AUG 2007 10:45

Order / Lane	Bib	ATHLETE	COUNTRY	PB	SB 2007
1	708	Michael Blackwood	JAM	44.60	45.05
2	1141	Angelo Taylor	USA	44.05	44.05
3	735	Yuki Yamaguchi	JPN	45.18	45.91
4	380	California Molefe	BOT	45.34	45.59
5	455	Nery Brenes	CRC	46.00	46.00
6	646	Jonathon Lavers	GIB	50.18i	50.18i
7	1005	Nagmeldin Ali Abubakr	SUD	44.93	45.25
8	999	Ivano Bucci	SMR	48.71	48.71
9	459	Williams Collazo	CUB	45.45	45.45

Heat 7 28 AUG 2007 10:52

Order / Lane	Bib	ATHLETE	COUNTRY	PB	SB 2007
2	1049	Ato Stephens	TTO	44.87	45.69
3	891	Daniel Dabrowski	POL	45.33	45.33
4	329	Sean Wroe	AUS	45.34	45.34
5	649	Dimítrios Grávalos	GRE	45.94	46.39
6	1161	Moses Kamut	VAN	47.63	48.26
7	1114	Lionel Larry	USA	44.67	44.67
8	690	Andrea Barberi	ITA	45.19	45.79
9	425	Tyler Christopher	CAN	44.44	44.93

Event preview: Men’s 400m

One of the firmest favourites of the championships, Jeremy Wariner (USA), has had an even better season than ever, improving his PB to 43.50 at the Stockholm Grand Prix.

That time ranks him fourth on the all-time list after Michael Johnson, Butch Reynolds and Quincy Watts.

The Olympic and defending World champion, he has not had an unblemished season, but his stumble out of the blocks on an inclement night in Sheffield, England, can hardly be called a loss except to the weather gods.

One man, however, considers he has the beating of Wariner and that is his compatriot, LaShawn Merritt, who made an attempt to upstage him in London only to see the Johnson protégé ease away from him in the straight.

But Angelo Taylor may also have something to say about Merritt’s aspirations since he beat him to the US title in 44.05.

The Olympic champion over the 400m Hurdles in 2000, Taylor has reinvented himself as the ninth fastest runner over one lap.

So the stage is set for an American cleansweep with a supporting cast including US collegiate champion Ricardo Chambers (JAM), Gary Kikaya (COD), World bronze medallist Christopher Tyler of Canada and World relay bronze medal-winner Sanjay Ayre of Jamaica.

Osaka 2007 News Team/mb