Defending champion LaShawn Merritt of the USA in the 400m heats in Daegu (© Getty images)
They said it was hardly a vintage year for men’s 400m running and the event in Daegu would be low key. Well, they were wrong. Four sub-45 second times, an historic performance by a disability athlete and one jaw-dropping world leading time proves the discipline is alive and well and the semi-finals and final promise much.
LaShawn Merritt was the man who perhaps most took the breath away during an eventful opening round. The defending champion looked sensational in heat three catapulting himself to the top of the world lists and also setting the fastest ever 400m First Round time at an IAAF World Championships with his 44.35 posting.
The performance by the American was even more impressive when you consider his enforced 21-month ban from the sport and also the fact this was only his second competitive run in almost two years.
Merritt sent out a clear warning to his rivals he is in no mood to relinquish his crown and also appeared to ease down early in the home straight to signal, perhaps, there is even more to come.
Behind him in heat three European champion Kevin Borlee also enjoyed an eye-catching run. He stopped the clock in 44.77 - within just 0.06 of the Belgian record – and is more than capable of medalling.
The mood had been set in a swift opening heat. Grenada’s Rondell Bartholomew, who was until Merrit’s run the second fastest 400m man in the world this year, ran a controlled race easing down to take victory in a 44.82.
Renny Quow running from the inside lane finished the thickness of a vest behind in a season’s best 44.84 to also prove the Trinidadian and 2009 World bronze medallist is coming into peak fitness when it matters most.
In the final heat, South Africa’s double amputee Oscar Pistorius advanced to the semi-finals after running the second fastest time of his career. Entering the home straight he momentarily held the lead before World indoor champion Chris Brown (45.29) and Great Britain’s Martyn Rooney (45.30) passed the four-time Paralympic gold medallist on his inside and he has to settle for third.
No matter, Pistorius registered 45.39 on his World Championship debut and will be delighted to have progressed. The most disappointed man in this heat was US champion Tony McQuay (46.76), who faded badly in the latter stages and was eliminated.
Jermaine Gonzales snatched victory in heat two in 45.12. The Jamaican record holder and former Commonwealth bronze medallist ran within himself for the first 300m before powering down the home stretch. The leader for the first 300m Jaamal Torrance the World Indoor bronze medallist of the USA had to be satisfied with second in 45.44, but also qualified.
World leader Kirani James looked similarly impressive in heat four. The teenage athlete from Grenada is regarded as one of the finest young talents in the sport and his 45.12 clocking to take the win will have done his confidence no harm. A further 0.04 back was Jonathan Borlee, twin brother of Kevin, who also booked his semi-final slot.
Steve Landells for the IAAF
