{"id":548,"date":"2011-08-10T07:01:00","date_gmt":"2011-08-10T14:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/?p=548"},"modified":"2011-08-10T07:01:00","modified_gmt":"2011-08-10T14:01:00","slug":"world-championships-preview-400-meters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/?p=548","title":{"rendered":"World Championships Preview \u2013 400 Meters"},"content":{"rendered":"

OK. Time for the fun to begin. I\u2019m going to start with the 400 meters because there\u2019s been so much activity there lately. Athletes in and out, up and down, and generally nearly unpredictable. Which is why I\u2019m starting with this event \u2013 it\u2019s got to be easier after this!<\/p>\n

\"image\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Men\u2019s 400<\/h4>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
 <\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
World Record<\/strong><\/td>\n43.18<\/td>\nMichael Johnson<\/td>\nUSA<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Meet Record<\/strong><\/td>\n43.18<\/td>\nMichael Johnson<\/td>\nUSA<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2009 Gold<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n44.06<\/td>\nLaShawn Merritt<\/td>\nUSA<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/h3>\n

2011 Best<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
 <\/td>\n44.61<\/td>\nKirani James<\/td>\nGRN<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
 <\/td>\n44.65<\/td>\nRondell Bartholomew<\/td>\nGRN<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
 <\/td>\n44.68<\/td>\nTony McQuay<\/td>\nUSA<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
 <\/td>\n44.69<\/td>\nJermaine Gonzalez<\/td>\nJAM<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
 <\/td>\n44,74<\/td>\nKevin Borlee<\/td>\nBEL<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
 <\/td>\n44.74<\/td>\nLaShawn Merritt<\/td>\nUSA<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

This has been one of the most volatile and interesting events of the season. Defending champion LaShawn Merritt, spent most of the year watching the action while waiting for his ban to end at the end of July \u2013 and waiting for permission from USATF to use his bye. The world leader for four months was Rondell Bartholomew, who ran his 44.65 way back on April 2nd. Kirani James ran an indoor WJR of 44.80, then fell down at the NCAA indoor championships. Tony McQuay was injured at the same meet while running the 200 and spent a great deal of the spring rehabbing his injury. Jermaine Gonzalez only finished fourth at the Jamaican Trials, but gained a berth to Worlds when 2nd placer Leford Green announced he was putting all of his eggs in the 400 hurdle basket. And for the first time since 2004 there will be a Global final without Jeremy Wariner, as he has withdrawn due to injury. So much for the soap opera section of this event! <\/p>\n

Bartholomew has been pretty much a one race wonder this year, as he has not run under 45.17 since his PR run. McQuay returned from his injury to battle James for the NCAA title \u2013 James coming out on top with McQuay a close 2nd. Both then took time off, James returning just last week in London to take the world lead. Gonzalez has been on fire since his Trials 4th defeating Merritt in his seasonal debut (and only race this season), and coming 2nd to James in London. The only man with a quiet season among the contenders is Borlee, who has been solid if unspectacular. <\/p>\n

So how does this one end up? I think it comes down to a battle of experience vs youth. James and McQuay are both very talented, and while they haven\u2019t been through the \u201cwars\u201d they have shown in NCAA and Trials competitions to be able to hold their own and produce when necessary. On the other side of the ledger are vets Merritt and Gonzalez. Merritt is the defending World and Olympic champion, and his debut of 44.74 after the long layoff was impressive. Add to that the fact that he has run much faster than anyone else in this field. Gonzalez is tough, but relies more on strength than speed \u2013 which is where the youngsters may have an advantage in this race as both McQuay and James have young legs that have barely tapped into their speed, yet have much better 200 PR\u2019s than Gonzalez \u2013 which I think will come in handy when the pace goes out near 21.0 in the final. <\/p>\n

Put it all in the blender and mix it up and I pour out an experience \/ youth split:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Gold<\/strong><\/td>\nLaShawn Merritt<\/td>\nUSA<\/td>\n44.21<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Silver<\/strong><\/td>\nKirani James<\/td>\nGRN<\/td>\n44.38<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bronze<\/strong><\/td>\nJermaine Gonzalez<\/td>\nJAM<\/td>\n44.48<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Just Missed<\/strong><\/td>\nTony McQuay<\/td>\nUSA<\/td>\n44.52<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"image\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Women\u2019s 400<\/h4>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
 <\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
World Record<\/strong><\/td>\n47.60<\/td>\nMarita Koch<\/td>\nGDR<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Meet Record<\/strong><\/td>\n47.99<\/td>\nJarmila Kratochvilova<\/td>\nTCH<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2009 Gold<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n49.00<\/td>\nSanya Richards<\/td>\nUSA<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/h3>\n

2011 Best<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
 <\/td>\n49.35<\/td>\nAna Kapachinskaya<\/td>\nRUS<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
 <\/td>\n49.66<\/td>\nSanya Richards Ross<\/td>\nUSA<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
 <\/td>\n49.71<\/td>\nAmantle Montsho<\/td>\nBOT<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
 <\/td>\n49.81<\/td>\nAllyson Felix<\/td>\nUSA<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
 <\/td>\n49.84<\/td>\nRosemarie Whyte<\/td>\nJAM<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
 <\/td>\n49.92<\/td>\nAntonina Krivoshapka<\/td>\nRUS<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Another event that has been very much in flux all season \u2013 though not the same soap opera as the men. The big story here has been the overall poor performance of defending champ Sanya Richards Ross, who after opening up with a 52.00 win on April 23rd, failed to win another final, or run under 50.61 until last week in London \u2013 her 49.66 win her first sub 50 since the WAF in \u201809! London was also kind to Jamaica\u2019s Rosemarie Whyte who got her first ever sub 50 in second place. Interestingly, while Whyte has yet to win a race outside of Jamaica or South America, she has run second in Reims, Birmingham and London \u2013 and 4th in Monaco. <\/p>\n

The big name in the absence of a fit Richards Ross has been teammate Allyson Felix who chose to focus on this event during the early season in an attempt to win the National title and give herself a possible shot at a 200\/400 double at Worlds. A feat she successfully pulled off while leading the world on the clock for most of the early season. But the real workhorse in the event has been Botswana\u2019s Amantle Montsho who, after a couple of early season losses to Felix, has an undefeated string of five races that included a PR 49.71 in Monaco. Quietly she\u2019s been the best quarter miler on the season. <\/p>\n

Finally, the enigma\u2019s in the race are Russians Ana Kapachinskaya, and Antonia Krivoshapka. Enigma\u2019s because both have run fast, but in the last decade or so, fast Russians in Russia, have not always panned out to be fast Russians elsewhere. These two are not strangers to top level competition, however. Krivoshapka took bronze in Berlin with Kapachinskaya 7th. But take note that Kapachinskaya was in a transition year, moving to the 400 from the 200 where she was World champion in 2003!<\/p>\n

All that said, up through mid July this looked to be the Allyson Felix gimme race on her way to a potential 200\/400 double victory. After the results in Cheboskary, Monaco and London, however, the once \u201clite\u201d race has become fully loaded and could be the deepest of the two events. Where does that leave us? First of all contemplating where Felix has focused her training in the last month, because she is a three time defending champion in the deuce, and it is her favorite event. It also leaves me wondering about Sanya Richards Ross\u2019 level of conditioning \u2013 yes she\u2019s back under 50 but is she ready for rounds? I also have to ask if Montsho if ready to move up from her 8th place finish in the Berlin final, and whether or not either of the Russians is ready to improve upon their Berlin placings?  <\/p>\n

My answers are that Felix prefers and will be more ready for the deuce. Richards Ross has not had enough time to be 100%. This field is deeper that Montsho is ready for. And Russia is back to the days of Pinigina, Nazarova, and Bryzgina. Making the outcome:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Gold<\/strong><\/td>\nAna Kapachinskaya<\/td>\nRUS<\/td>\n49.19<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Silver<\/strong><\/td>\nAllyson Felix<\/td>\nUSA<\/td>\n49.37<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bronze<\/strong><\/td>\nSanya Richards Ross<\/td>\nUSA<\/td>\n49.45<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Just Missed<\/strong><\/td>\nAmantle Montsho<\/td>\nBOT<\/td>\n49.64<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

OK. Time for the fun to begin. I\u2019m going to start with the 400 meters because there\u2019s been so much activity there lately. Athletes in and out, up and down, and generally nearly unpredictable. Which is why I\u2019m starting with this event \u2013 it\u2019s got to be easier after this! Men\u2019s 400         World Record 43.18 Michael Johnson USA Meet Record 43.18 Michael Johnson USA 2009 Gold 44.06 LaShawn Merritt USA   2011 Best   44.61 Kirani James GRN   44.65 Rondell Bartholomew GRN   44.68 Tony McQuay USA   44.69 Jermaine Gonzalez JAM   44,74 Kevin Borlee BEL   44.74 LaShawn Merritt USA This has been one of the most volatile and interesting events of the season. Defending champion LaShawn Merritt, spent most of the year watching the action while waiting for his ban to end at the end of July \u2013 and waiting for permission from USATF to use his bye. The world leader for four months was Rondell Bartholomew, who ran his 44.65 way back on April 2nd. Kirani James ran an indoor WJR of 44.80, then fell down at the NCAA indoor championships. Tony McQuay was injured at the same meet while running the 200 and spent a great deal of the spring rehabbing his injury. Jermaine Gonzalez only finished fourth at the Jamaican Trials, but gained a berth to Worlds when 2nd placer Leford Green announced he was putting all of his eggs in the 400 hurdle basket. And for the first time since 2004 there will be a Global final without Jeremy Wariner, as he has withdrawn due to injury. So much for the soap opera section of this event! Bartholomew has been pretty much a one race wonder this year, as he has not run under 45.17 since his PR run. McQuay returned from his injury to battle James for the NCAA title \u2013 James coming out on top with McQuay a close 2nd. Both then took time off, James returning just last week in London to take the world lead. Gonzalez has been on fire since his Trials 4th defeating Merritt in his seasonal debut (and only race this season), and coming 2nd to James in London. The only man with a quiet season among the contenders is Borlee, who has been solid if unspectacular. So how does this one end up? I think it comes down to a battle of experience vs youth. James and McQuay are both very talented, and while they haven\u2019t been through the \u201cwars\u201d they have shown in NCAA and Trials competitions to be able to hold their own and produce when necessary. On the other side of the ledger are vets Merritt and Gonzalez. Merritt is the defending World and Olympic champion, and his debut of 44.74 after the long layoff was impressive. Add to that the fact that he has run much faster than anyone else in this field. Gonzalez is tough, but relies more on strength than speed \u2013 which is where the youngsters may have an advantage in this race as both McQuay and James have young legs that have barely tapped into their speed, yet have much better 200 PR\u2019s than Gonzalez \u2013 which I think will come in handy when the pace goes out near 21.0 in the final. Put it all in the blender and mix it up and I pour out an experience \/ youth split: Gold LaShawn Merritt USA 44.21 Silver Kirani James GRN 44.38 Bronze Jermaine Gonzalez JAM 44.48 Just Missed Tony McQuay USA 44.52     Women\u2019s 400         World Record 47.60 Marita Koch GDR Meet Record 47.99 Jarmila Kratochvilova TCH 2009 Gold 49.00 Sanya Richards USA   2011 Best   49.35 Ana Kapachinskaya RUS   49.66 Sanya Richards Ross USA   49.71 Amantle Montsho BOT   49.81 Allyson Felix USA   49.84 Rosemarie Whyte JAM   49.92 Antonina Krivoshapka RUS Another event that has been very much in flux all season \u2013 though not the same soap opera as the men. The big story here has been the overall poor performance of defending champ Sanya Richards Ross, who after opening up with a 52.00 win on April 23rd, failed to win another final, or run under 50.61 until last week in London \u2013 her 49.66 win her first sub 50 since the WAF in \u201809! London was also kind to Jamaica\u2019s Rosemarie Whyte who got her first ever sub 50 in second place. Interestingly, while Whyte has yet to win a race outside of Jamaica or South America, she has run second in Reims, Birmingham and London \u2013 and 4th in Monaco. The big name in the absence of a fit Richards Ross has been teammate Allyson Felix who chose to focus on this event during the early season in an attempt to win the National title and give herself a possible shot at a 200\/400 double at Worlds. A feat she successfully pulled off while leading the world on the clock for most of the early season. But the real workhorse in the event has been Botswana\u2019s Amantle Montsho who, after a couple of early season losses to Felix, has an undefeated string of five races that included a PR 49.71 in Monaco. Quietly she\u2019s been the best quarter miler on the season. Finally, the enigma\u2019s in the race are Russians Ana Kapachinskaya, and Antonia Krivoshapka. Enigma\u2019s because both have run fast, but in the last decade or so, fast Russians in Russia, have not always panned out to be fast Russians elsewhere. These two are not strangers to top level competition, however. Krivoshapka took bronze in Berlin with Kapachinskaya 7th. But take note that Kapachinskaya was in a transition year, moving to the 400 from the 200 where she was World champion in 2003! All that said, up through mid July this looked to be the Allyson Felix gimme race on her way to a potential 200\/400 double victory. After the results in Cheboskary, Monaco and London, however, the once \u201clite\u201d race has become fully loaded and could be the deepest of the two events. Where does that leave us? First of all contemplating where Felix has focused her training in the last month, because she is a three time defending champion in the deuce, and it is her favorite event. It also leaves me wondering about Sanya Richards Ross\u2019 level of conditioning \u2013 yes she\u2019s back under 50 but is she ready for rounds? I also have to ask if Montsho if ready to move up from her 8th place finish in the Berlin final, and whether or not either of the Russians is ready to improve upon their Berlin placings?  My answers are that Felix prefers and will be more ready for the deuce. Richards Ross has not had enough time to be 100%. This field is deeper that Montsho is ready for. And Russia is back to the days of Pinigina, Nazarova, and Bryzgina. Making the outcome: Gold Ana Kapachinskaya RUS 49.19 Silver Allyson Felix USA 49.37 Bronze Sanya Richards Ross USA 49.45 Just Missed Amantle Montsho BOT 49.64<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-548","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pa3DCY-8Q","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":522,"url":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/?p=522","url_meta":{"origin":548,"position":0},"title":"First 2011 Medal Watch List","author":"CHill","date":"July 2, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"With the team selected for Daegu, it\u2019s time to start looking at where our medals our. So following is my first Medal Watch List of 2011. My final list of 2010 can be found here for comparison. As you can see the list has already undergone some major renovation since\u2026","rel":"","context":"With 4 comments","block_context":{"text":"With 4 comments","link":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/?p=522#comments"},"img":{"alt_text":"image","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lh6.ggpht.com\/-N2KFgqmExQ4\/Tg_NYN_y-UI\/AAAAAAAAAQg\/EEtWv3g0Nog\/image_thumb.png?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":413,"url":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/?p=413","url_meta":{"origin":548,"position":1},"title":"The New \u201cMedal\u201d Watch List","author":"CHill","date":"November 3, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"At the beginning of his short reign as CEO of USATF, Doug Logan set 30 medals as a goal for the US squad at the 2012 London Olympics. That bit of goal setting was the impetus for the creation of my \u201cThirty Watch List\u201d \u2013 to\u00a0 monitor our progress towards\u2026","rel":"","context":"With 3 comments","block_context":{"text":"With 3 comments","link":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/?p=413#comments"},"img":{"alt_text":"Allyson Felix of the U.S. celebrates after winning the women's 400m race during the London Grand Prix Diamond League athletics tournament at Crystal Palace in London August 14, 2010. REUTERS\/Paul Hackett (UNITED KINGDOM - Tags: SPORT ATHLETICS)","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/view2.picapp.com\/pictures.photo\/image\/9546363\/felix-celebrates-after\/felix-celebrates-after.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":323,"url":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/?p=323","url_meta":{"origin":548,"position":2},"title":"Update to Collegiate Rankings","author":"CHill","date":"May 12, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"With most of the major collegiate conferences on tap this weekend, that means the NCAA Championships are just around the bend. At the beginning of the season I gave my predictions for those collegians I felt were the favorites to win their respective events in Eugene. Seems like a good\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"Track and Field: NCAA Championships","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cdn.picapp.com\/ftp\/Images\/9\/7\/3\/4\/Track_and_Field_2a9b.JPG?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":301,"url":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/?p=301","url_meta":{"origin":548,"position":3},"title":"Ranking the Collegians","author":"CHill","date":"April 7, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"With the springtime being dominated by collegiate athletes and programs there are many college rankings out there. The U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) does a weekly Top 25 ranking of collegiate programs that can be found here. I like both of their current top 5\u2019s.\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"Track and Field: 83rd Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cdn.picapp.com\/ftp\/Images\/9\/0\/2\/4\/Track_and_Field_298c.JPG?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1423,"url":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/?p=1423","url_meta":{"origin":548,"position":4},"title":"American Medal Hopes","author":"CHill","date":"July 19, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Ok, it's time to climb out on that limb and stick my neck out. I'm sure by the time I'm done there will be several whacks taken at it. So I\u2019m going out gingerly by starting with my list of American athletes that I think have medal potential. I'm sure\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"Olympics\"","block_context":{"text":"Olympics","link":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/?tag=olympics"},"img":{"alt_text":"Sprinter Shadow","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/trackchill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Sprinter-Shadow_thumb.png?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":487,"url":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/?p=487","url_meta":{"origin":548,"position":5},"title":"NCAA Championship Favorites","author":"CHill","date":"May 18, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"The conferences are done. Only two meets left for the collegiate season \u2013 the Regional meets and the NCAA Championships. So it\u2019s time to look at who will be this year\u2019s NCAA Champions. Last year\u2019s meet was perhaps the best meet of the year in terms of overall excitement. I\u2026","rel":"","context":"With 2 comments","block_context":{"text":"With 2 comments","link":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/?p=487#comments"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/548","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=548"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/548\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=548"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=548"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=548"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}