United States’ Quincy Hall has won the Men’s 400m Final at the Paris 2024 Olympics after a tight finish with Great Britain’s Matthew Hudson-Smith. Despite leading with only 50 meters to go, Hudson-Smith was slowing, and Hall managed to catch him on the line to record the fourth quickest 400m time in history.
Race Recap –
The eight athletes going into the Men’s 400m final were Kirani James (GRN), Muzala Samukonga (ZAM), Quincy Hall (USA), Matt Hudson-Smith (GBR), Michael Norman (USA), Christopher Bailey (USA), Jereem Richards (TTO), and Samuel Ogazi (NGR).
In the semifinals, Samukonga set a 43.81 which was a new Zambian national record, but the quickest time was a 43.78, in the same semifinal, from James.
The reigning Olympic Champion Steven Gardiner was in Paris but was a did not start in his opening round one race. The reigning world champion Antonio Watson wasn’t in Paris as he pulled up in the Jamaican national qualifier.
Second in that World Championship race was Great Britain’s Hudson-Smith who went into the race as one of the favourites. He had the season’s best time of anyone going into the 400m final and was looking to emulate the achievements of Eric Liddell from 100 years ago in the 1924 Olympics in Paris.
The race got off quickly with Richards and Hudson-Smith looking the early favourites at 200m. Everyone in the outer lanes stayed tight though, which made the race extremely open. Going into the final straight Hudson-Smith led from Richards in 2nd and James in third. Back in fourth was Hall and with the top three all fading slightly the American attempted to seize the opportunity.
Hudson-Smith was grimacing all along the final straight but 40m out he still looked to be the slight favourite. By that point Hall had gotten Richards, who was in the outside lane, and also was past James. Hall was now using his full energy that he hadn’t exerted on the bend and Hudson-Smith didn’t have the distance to hold on with Hall piping him on the line.
There was 0.04 seconds between the top two in the end, with Hall setting his PB with a 43.40 and Hudson-Smith setting an area record with a 43.44. Hall hadn’t managed to make the top three in the splits until only 50m to go but with a last 100m split 0.50 quicker than Hudson-Smith it was enough. The British runner’s time was the quickest never to win gold at an Olympics.
Samukonga was also able to steam through in the later half of the race and take third place and bronze for Zambia. His time was a 43.74, which was a new national record. Also setting a national record was Richards who came home fourth for Trinidad and Tobago.
Women’s 400m Semi-Final Recap –
In the first semi-final, Bahrain’s Salwa Naser set a seasonal best to win and qualify with a time of 49.08. Also qualifying from this race was Ireland’s Rhasidat Adeleke with a 49.95 and Henriette Jaeger as a fastest loser with a 50.17.
The second race started like the first with a failed start, which resulted in a yellow card for Laviai Nielsen. When the race actually got underway it was the favourite Marileidy Paulino, who got away brilliantly and won the race with a 49.21. The other qualifier from this race was Alexis Holmes who ran a 50 flat. This race saw Nickisha Pryce miss out on the final running a whole two seconds slower than her time from the Diamond League meet earlier this year in London.
In the third and final semifinal, it was a tight battle between Poland’s Natalia Kaczmarek and Great Britain’s Amber Anning who crossed the line with times of 49.45 and 49.47 respectively. Sada Williams came home in third with a 49.89 which was enough to qualify as a fastest loser.
The final takes place on Friday, August 9 at 7pm local time.
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Publish date : 2024-08-07 08:56:00
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