400 metres
The 400 metres, or 400 metre dash, is a common sprinting event in track and field competitions. It has been featured in the athletics programme at the Summer Olympics since 1896 (1964 for women). On a standard outdoor running track, it is exactly one lap around the track. Runners start in staggered positions and race in separate lanes for the entire course. In many countries, athletes previously competed in the 440 yard dash (402.336 m) - also referred to as the 'quarter-mile' - instead of the 400 m, though this distance is now obsolete. An athlete who competes in the 400 m may still be referred to as 'quarter-miler'.
Maximum sprint speed capability is a significant contributing factor to success in the event, but athletes also require substantial endurance to sustain a fast speed over a whole lap. The 400 m is often considered to be one of the more difficult sprinting events because of this.
The United States men have historically dominated this event. The current men's world record is held by American Michael Johnson, with a time of 43.18 seconds. The world indoor record holder is Kerron Clement, in 44.57 seconds. The current women's world record is held by Marita Koch, with a time of 47.60 seconds. Kirani James and Amantle Montsho are the reigning men's and women's world champions respectively, while LaShawn Merritt and Christine Ohuruogu hold the men's and women's Olympic titles respectively. The men's Paralympic world record of 45.07 seconds is held by Oscar Pistorius. Michael Johnson has run the fastest 4×400 metres relay split—a 42.94 in the 1993 World Championships.[1]
An Olympic double of 200 metres and 400 m was first achieved by Valerie Brisco-Hooks in 1984, and later by Michael Johnson from the United States and Marie-José Pérec of France both in 1996. Alberto Juantorena of Cuba at the 1976 Summer Olympics became the first and so far the only athlete to win both the 400 m and 800 m Olympic titles.
Fastest 400 m runners
Men
- Updated April 2010
Rank | Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Location |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | 43.18 | Michael Johnson | United States | 26 August 1999 | Seville |
2. | 43.29 | Harry 'Butch' Reynolds | United States | 17 August 1988 | Zürich |
3. | 43.45 | Jeremy Wariner | United States | 31 August 2007 | Osaka |
4. | 43.50 | Quincy Watts | United States | 5 August 1992 | Barcelona |
5. | 43.58 | usain bolt | Template:Jam | 21 August 2008 | Beijing |
6. | 43.81 | Danny Everett | United States | 2009 | jamaica |
7. | 43.86 | Lee Evans | United States | 18 October 1968 | Mexico City |
8. | 43.87 | Steve Lewis | United States | 28 September 1988 | Seoul |
9. | 43.97 | Larry James | United States | 18 October 1968 | Mexico City |
10. | 44.05 | Angelo Taylor | United States | 23 June 2007 | Indianapolis |
Women
- Updated April 2010
Rank | Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Location |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | 47.60 | Marita Koch | East Germany | 6 October 1985 | Canberra |
2. | 47.99 | Jarmila Kratochvílová | Czechoslovakia | 10 August 1983 | Helsinki |
3. | 48.25 | Marie-José Pérec | France | 29 July 1996 | Atlanta |
4. | 48.27 | Olga Vladykina-Bryzgina | Soviet Union | 6 October 1985 | Canberra |
5. | 48.59 | Taťána Kocembová | Czechoslovakia | 10 August 1983 | Helsinki |
6. | 48.63 | Cathy Freeman | Australia | 29 July 1996 | Atlanta |
7. | 48.70 | Sanya Richards | United States | 16 September 2006 | Athens |
8. | 48.83 | Valerie Brisco-Hooks | United States | 6 August 1984 | Los Angeles |
9. | 48.89 | Ana Guevara | Mexico | 27 August 2003 | Paris Saint-Denis |
10. | 49.05 | Chandra Cheeseborough | United States | 6 August 1984 | Los Angeles |
- Allyson Felix ran a 48 second split during a 4x400m relay in the 2007 Athletics World Championships in Osaka, Japan.
See also
References
- ^ Pistorius faces Olympic rejection. BBC Sport (2007-12-20). Retrieved on 2009-01-29.