The men’s 400m final at the 2022 Oregon World Championship had assembled the best quarter-milers across the globe. Notably absent was the reigning Olympic Champion and defending World Champion, Steven Gardiner of the Bahamas, who suffered Achilles Tendinitis prior to the start of the championship. Consequently, the final was not as intensely competitive as it could have been with Gardiner’s exclusion, but it was exciting just the same.
Loaded Final
The finalists were Michael Norman and Champion Allison of the US, Kirani James of Grenada, Mathew Hudson-Smith of Great Britain, Wayde Van Neikerk of the Republic of South Africa, Byapo Ndori of Botswana, Christopher Taylor of Jamaica, and Johnathan Jones of Barbados.
Semifinals
There were three semifinals from which the finalists emerged. Semifinal 1 produced the two fastest automatic qualifiers in Michael Norman (44.30) and Mathew Hudson-Smith (44.38). Christopher Taylor (44.97), advanced to the final as one of the fastest non automatic qualifiers.
Semifinal 2 produced only two qualifiers in Kirani James (44.74) and Byapo Ndori (44.94).
Semifinal 3 qualified Champion Allison (44.71), Wayne Van Neikerk (44.75) and Johnathan Jones (44.78)
Norman of to a fast start
The results ran true to form as Michael Norman, Kirani James and Mathew Hudson-Smith were the top medal contenders, who eventually secured podium finishes. Norman wasted no time; he went out very hard within the first two hundred metres, and so did Kirani James who made every effort to keep abreast with the young American. Mathew Hudson-Smith was pushing vigorously as he tried to keep pace with Norman and James.
Norman outlast the competition
However, it was Norman, who had the superior leg speed and endurance, and who seemed to have wanted the victory the most. The twenty-four year old American ran a well distributed race, as he powered away, and shook off a defiant and stubborn challenge of the veteran Kirani James. The American crossed the finish line in a respectable 44.29, to lift his first global title from three such attempts. The Grenadian, Kirani James, was rewarded with the silver medal, as he crossed the finished line in 44.48, and ahead of the Britton, Mathew Hudson-Smith, who did same in 44.66.
The American, Champion Allison, ended up in fourth place, in a time of 44.77, and ahead of the Wayde Van Neikerk, who finished in fifth place in 44.97. Byapo Ndori (45.29), Christopher Taylor (45.30) and Johnathan Jones (46.13), respectively, rounded out the final placings.
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Henley Taylor
Freelance Sports Writer
Henleytaylor1965@gmail.com
Edited by Raymond Byfield
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