World 400m champion Wayde van Niekerk clocked 44.11sec at the SA Open in Bloemfontein on Friday morning to lay a marker ahead of the Rio Olympics in August.
That time elevates him to No2 in the world so far this year‚ just behind reigning Olympic champion Kirani James of Grenada on 44.08 but in front of American LaShawn Merritt‚ the previous world champion‚ on 44.22.
Van Niekerk’s time was initially listed on the timing clock at 43.88‚ but it later emerged that it was wrong.
It was still a good effort by Van Niekerk‚ who was effectively running on his own‚ finishing more than three-and-a-half seconds faster than his nearest rival in the heat‚ Willie de Beer.
He collapsed after his effort — his usual reaction after a hard run — and decided to withdraw from the afternoon semifinals.
This was the same track where Van Niekerk went 9.98sec in the 100m to become the first man ever to do a sub-10 100m‚ sub-20 200m and sub-44 400m.
Van Niekerk clocked 43.48 last year as he won the world championships in Beijing ahead of Merritt and James.
There are pundits who believe Michael Johnson’s 43.18 world record from August 1999 might not survive the year. — Tiso Black Star Group Digital
Van Niekerk withdraws from semis after blistering 400m run
That time elevates him to No2 in the world so far this year‚ just behind reigning Olympic champion Kirani James of Grenada on 44.08 but in front of American LaShawn Merritt‚ the previous world champion‚ on 44.22.
Van Niekerk’s time was initially listed on the timing clock at 43.88‚ but it later emerged that it was wrong.
It was still a good effort by Van Niekerk‚ who was effectively running on his own‚ finishing more than three-and-a-half seconds faster than his nearest rival in the heat‚ Willie de Beer.
He collapsed after his effort — his usual reaction after a hard run — and decided to withdraw from the afternoon semifinals.
This was the same track where Van Niekerk went 9.98sec in the 100m to become the first man ever to do a sub-10 100m‚ sub-20 200m and sub-44 400m.
Van Niekerk clocked 43.48 last year as he won the world championships in Beijing ahead of Merritt and James.
There are pundits who believe Michael Johnson’s 43.18 world record from August 1999 might not survive the year. — Tiso Black Star Group Digital
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