The women’s 400m final in Moscow proved to be a stunning royal battle between the reigning World Champion Amantle Montsho and the 2007 World and 2008 Olympic Champion Christine Ohuruogu. The men’s final in the event will prove to be nothing less. It features the 2008 Olympic Champion LaShawn Merritt and the 2012 Olympic Champion Kirani James alongside the most promising young sprinters in the world.
Who are the favorites?
The honour goes without a doubt to Merritt (PB: 43.75s and SB: 44.09s) and James (PB: 43.96s and SB: 43.94s). Merritt was the World Champion in 2009, but a 21-month drug ban that lasted almost until the 2011 World Championships prevented the American from defending his title properly in Daegu and James announced his name on the senior stage with the win there. This season Merritt boasts wins at the prestigious Eugene and Rome rounds of the Diamond League circuit.
Merritt’s season best time of 44.09s, however, ranks him second in the 2013 rankings behind his big rival Kirani James. James himself won three of the 400m Diamond League events this season (Shanghai, Paris and London). The Grenadian sprinter is the only man this season to have ran under 44 seconds (albeit only once).
Who might surprise us?
Merritt and James might be the big stars of the 400m event in the World Championships, but the final would have been far from lackluster without them. The 2011 Asian Champion Yousef Ahmed Masrahi (PB and SB: 44.61s) nearly broke the 400m Asian record (44.56s) to get in the final from the first semi-final heat. Masrahi also stands at Number 3 in the current world rankings and boasts a prestigious Diamond League win from Oslo 2013.
Then, there is also Tony McQuay (PB and SB: 44.61s) - the 2012 NCAA champion in the 400m sprint. McQuay ran impressively in the semi-finals and similarly to Masrahi posted his personal best time to make it to the World Championships final and into Top 4 of the 2013 World Rankings.
Masrahi and McQuay enter the final as favorites for the final podium spot, but they have a fight on their hands. Pavel Maslak (PB and SB: 44.84s) is also in the final and the Czech sprinter is the reigning European Champion.
Luguelin Santos (PB: 44.74s and SB: 44.83s) from the Dominican Republic should also not be written out. Santos is the reigning World Junior Champion and would be looking to prove himself among the seniors.
Prediction
The fight between Merritt and James looks just too close to call. James has had the stronger results over the season, but Merritt was more solid during the heats and the semi-finals. James goes into the final on the back of a 45.00s run in the heats and a 44.81s run in the semi-finals, while Merritt earned his spot with 44.92s in the heats and 44.60s in the semi-finals. It might, however, mean that James is simply better rested for the final.
Source: IAAF, New York Times, BBC, RDC Cairo, USA Today, RSport, Que