Athletics at the 1968 Summer Olympics – Men's 400 metres
Men's 400 metres at the Games of the XIX Olympiad | |||||||||||||
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Venue | University Olympic Stadium, Mexico City | ||||||||||||
Dates | 16–18 October 1968 | ||||||||||||
Competitors | 55 from 36 nations | ||||||||||||
Winning time | 43.86 WR | ||||||||||||
Medalists | |||||||||||||
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Athletics at the 1968 Summer Olympics | ||
---|---|---|
Track events | ||
100 m | men | women |
200 m | men | women |
400 m | men | women |
800 m | men | women |
1500 m | men | |
5000 m | men | |
10,000 m | men | |
80 m hurdles | women | |
110 m hurdles | men | |
400 m hurdles | men | |
3000 m steeplechase | men | |
4 × 100 m relay | men | women |
4 × 400 m relay | men | |
Road events | ||
Marathon | men | |
20 km walk | men | |
50 km walk | men | |
Field events | ||
Long jump | men | women |
Triple jump | men | |
High jump | men | women |
Pole vault | men | |
Shot put | men | women |
Discus throw | men | women |
Javelin throw | men | women |
Hammer throw | men | |
Combined events | ||
Pentathlon | women | |
Decathlon | men | |
The
Background
This was the sixteenth appearance of the event, which is one of 12 athletics events to have been held at every Summer Olympics.
Barbados, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Morocco, Nicaragua, and Sudan appeared in this event for the first time. The federation of Malaysia also competed for the first time, though Malaya had previously appeared. East and West Germany competed separately for the first time. The United States made its sixteenth appearance in the event, the only nation to compete in it at every Olympic Games to that point.
Competition format
The competition retained the basic four-round format from 1920. The "fastest loser" system, introduced in 1964, was available but not used in 1968 because there was no need to balance quarterfinals as there were 8 heats in the first round. Those heats each had between 6 and 8 athletes, with the top four advancing. The 4 quarterfinals each had 8 runners; the top four athletes in each quarterfinal heat advanced to the semifinals. The semifinals featured 2 heats of 8 runners each. The top four runners in each semifinal heat advanced, making an eight-man final.[2][3]
Records
Prior to the competition, the existing World and Olympic records were as follows.
World record | Larry James (USA) | 44.1 | Echo Summit, United States | 14 September 1968 |
Olympic record | Otis Davis (USA) | 44.9 | Rome, Italy | 6 September 1960 |
Schedule
The quarterfinals were held on the second day (with the semifinals) rather than the first day (with the first round heats), a change from previous years.
All times are
Date | Time | Round |
---|---|---|
Wednesday, 16 October 1968 | 15:40 | Round 1 |
Thursday, 17 October 1968 | 15:20 18:00 |
Quarterfinals Semifinals |
Friday, 18 October 1968 | 15:50 | Final |
Results
Round 1
The top four runners in each of the eight heats advanced to the quarterfinal round.
Heat 1
Rank | Athlete | Nation | Time (hand) | Time (auto) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Lee Evans |
United States | 45.3 | 45.40 | Q |
2 | Claver Kamanya | Tanzania | 45.7 | 45.74 | Q |
3 | Christian Nicolau | France | 45.7 | 45.77 | Q |
4 | Sam Bugri | Ghana | 45.8 | 45.88 | Q |
5 | Manfred Kinder | West Germany | 46.9 | 46.95 | |
6 | Ezra Burnham | Barbados | 47.9 | 47.94 |
Heat 2
Rank | Athlete | Nation | Time (hand) | Time (auto) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Andrzej Badeński | Poland | 45.5 | 45.52 | Q |
2 | Clifton Forbes | Jamaica | 45.7 | 45.75 | Q |
3 | Larry James | United States | 45.8 | 45.83 | Q |
4 | Daniel Rudisha | Kenya | 46.9 | 46.96 | Q |
5 | Angelo Hussein | Sudan | 47.7 | 47.80 | |
6 | Victor Asirvatham | Malaysia | 48.0 | 48.02 |
Heat 3
Rank | Athlete | Nation | Time (hand) | Time (auto) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Amadou Gakou | Senegal | 45.3 | 45.39 | Q |
2 | Tegegne Bezabeh | Ethiopia | 45.5 | 45.60 | Q |
3 | Ron Freeman | United States | 45.6 | 45.67 | Q |
4 | Rodobaldo Díaz | Cuba | 46.4 | 46.48 | Q |
5 | Ramon Magariños |
Spain | 46.9 | 46.92 | |
6 | Anthony Egwunyenga | Nigeria | 47.3 | 47.37 | |
7 | Francisco Menocal | Nicaragua | 49.1 | 49.14 |
Heat 4
Rank | Athlete | Nation | Time (hand) | Time (auto) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Martin Jellinghaus | West Germany | 46.4 | 46.50 | Q |
2 | Pedro Grajales | Colombia | 46.7 | 46.73 | Q |
3 | Michael Zerbes | East Germany | 46.8 | 46.84 | Q |
4 | Ross MacKenzie |
Canada | 47.0 | 47.05 | Q |
5 | Howard Davies | Great Britain | 47.2 | 47.30 | |
6 | Jacques Pennewaert | Belgium | 48.5 | 48.55 | |
7 | José Astacio | El Salvador | 52.9 | 52.92 |
Heat 5
Rank | Athlete | Nation | Time (hand) | Time (auto) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Amos Omolo | Uganda | 45.8 | 45.85 | Q |
2 | Munyoro Nyamau | Kenya | 45.9 | 45.91 | Q |
3 | Jean-Claude Nallet | France | 45.9 | 45.93 | Q |
4 | Helmar Müller | West Germany | 45.9 | 45.98 | Q |
5 | José Jacinto Hidalgo | Venezuela | 46.3 | 46.32 | |
6 | Carlos Martínez |
Cuba | 47.2 | 47.28 | |
7 | Tony Harper | Bermuda | 49.1 | 49.18 |
Heat 6
Rank | Athlete | Nation | Time (hand) | Time (auto) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Jan Werner | Poland | 45.9 | 45.97 | Q |
2 | Martin Winbolt-Lewis | Great Britain | 46.2 | 46.27 | Q |
3 | Mamman Makama | Nigeria | 46.4 | 46.49 | Q |
4 | Sergio Bello | Italy | 46.5 | 46.54 | Q |
5 | Eddy Téllez | Cuba | 46.7 | 46.80 | |
6 | Noel Carroll | Ireland | 46.8 | 46.83 | |
7 | José L'Oficial | Dominican Republic | 47.9 | 47.93 |
Heat 7
Rank | Athlete | Nation | Time (hand) | Time (auto) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Naftali Bon | Kenya | 46.2 | 46.21 | Q |
2 | Jan Balachowski | Poland | 46.2 | 46.23 | Q |
3 | Musa Dogon Yaro | Nigeria | 46.2 | 46.24 | Q |
4 | Gilles Bertould | France | 46.3 | 46.31 | Q |
5 | Don Domansky | Canada | 46.4 | 46.46 | |
6 | Melesio Piña | Mexico | 46.8 | 46.81 | |
7 | Leslie Miller | Bahamas | 46.9 | 46.99 | |
8 | Yoyaga Dit Coulibaly | Ivory Coast | 50.0 | 50.11 |
Heat 8
Rank | Athlete | Nation | Time (hand) | Time (auto) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Wolfgang Müller |
East Germany | 46.6 | 46.66 | Q |
2 | Colin Campbell |
Great Britain | 46.6 | 46.66 | Q |
3 | Sergio Ottolina | Italy | 46.7 | 46.78 | Q |
4 | Juan Carlos Dyrzka | Argentina | 47.0 | 47.02 | Q |
5 | George Simon | Trinidad and Tobago | 47.9 | 47.95 | |
6 | Omar Ghizlat | Morocco | 48.2 | 48.23 | |
7 | Kun Min-Mu |
Taiwan | 49.0 | 49.07 |
Quarterfinals
The top four runners in each of the four heats advanced to the semifinal round.
Quarterfinal 1
Rank | Athlete | Nation | Time (hand) | Time (auto) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Amadou Gakou | Senegal | 45.5 | 45.56 | Q |
2 | Larry James | United States | 45.7 | 45.77 | Q |
3 | Claver Kamanya | Tanzania | 46.0 | 46.03 | Q |
4 | Ross MacKenzie |
Canada | 46.1 | 46.15 | Q |
5 | Musa Dogon Yaro | Nigeria | 46.1 | 46.19 | |
6 | Colin Campbell |
Great Britain | 46.3 | 46.35 | |
7 | Naftali Bon | Kenya | 46.3 | 46.39 | |
8 | Sergio Bello | Italy | 46.8 | 46.84 |
Quarterfinal 2
Rank | Athlete | Nation | Time (hand) | Time (auto) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Amos Omolo | Uganda | 45.3 | 45.33 | Q |
2 | Lee Evans |
United States | 45.5 | 45.54 | Q |
3 | Munyoro Nyamau | Kenya | 46.1 | 46.12 | Q |
4 | Wolfgang Müller |
East Germany | 46.2 | 46.32 | Q |
5 | Jan Balachowski | Poland | 46.3 | 46.33 | |
6 | Rodobaldo Díaz | Cuba | 46.3 | 46.38 | |
7 | Juan Carlos Dyrzka | Argentina | 46.8 | 46.85 | |
— | Christian Nicolau | France | DNS | — |
Quarterfinal 3
Rank | Athlete | Nation | Time (hand) | Time (auto) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Jan Werner | Poland | 45.6 | 45.63 | Q |
2 | Martin Jellinghaus | West Germany | 45.9 | 46.00 | Q |
3 | Tegegne Bezabeh | Ethiopia | 46.0 | 46.02 | Q |
4 | Sam Bugri | Ghana | 46.0 | 46.08 | Q |
5 | Clifton Forbes | Jamaica | 46.2 | 46.29 | |
6 | Daniel Rudisha | Kenya | 47.6 | 47.68 | |
7 | Gilles Bertould | France | 48.9 | 48.91 | |
— | Sergio Ottolina | Italy | DNS | — |
Quarterfinal 4
Rank | Athlete | Nation | Time (hand) | Time (auto) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Ron Freeman | United States | 45.3 | 45.31 | Q |
2 | Andrzej Badeński | Poland | 45.6 | 45.60 | Q |
3 | Helmar Müller | West Germany | 45.7 | 45.78 | Q |
4 | Jean-Claude Nallet | France | 45.7 | 45.80 | Q |
5 | Martin Winbolt-Lewis | Great Britain | 45.9 | 45.91 | |
6 | Michael Zerbes | East Germany | 46.1 | 46.19 | |
7 | Mamman Makama | Nigeria | 46.4 | 46.41 | |
8 | Pedro Grajales | Colombia | 46.5 | 46.53 |
Semifinals
Top four in each of the two heats advanced to the final round.
Semifinal 1
Rank | Athlete | Nation | Time (hand) | Time (auto) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Amadou Gakou | Senegal | 45.1 | 45.17 | Q |
2 | Ron Freeman | United States | 45.4 | 45.47 | Q |
3 | Andrzej Badeński | Poland | 45.4 | 45.50 | Q |
4 | Tegegne Bezabeh | Ethiopia | 45.5 | 45.60 | Q |
5 | Sam Burgi |
Ghana | 45.9 | 45.92 | |
6 | Helmar Müller | West Germany | 46.2 | 46.22 | |
7 | Claver Kamanya | Tanzania | 46.2 | 46.22 | |
8 | Wolfgang Müller |
East Germany | 48.3 | 48.37 |
Semifinal 2
Rank | Athlete | Nation | Time (hand) | Time (auto) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Lee Evans |
United States | 44.8 | 44.83 | Q, OR |
2 | Larry James | United States | 44.9 | 44.88 | Q |
3 | Martin Jellinghaus | West Germany | 44.9 | 45.06 | Q |
4 | Amos Omolo | Uganda | 45.4 | 45.52 | Q |
5 | Jan Werner | Poland | 45.7 | 45.75 | |
6 | Munyoro Nyamau | Kenya | 46.3 | 46.37 | |
7 | Jean-Claude Nallet | France | 49.0 | 49.01 | |
8 | Ross MacKenzie |
Canada | 49.2 | 49.28 |
Final
Evans nearly withdrew from the final in protest of the expulsion of his college teammates Tommie Smith and John Carlos from the Games after their Black Power salute. Smith and Carlos, however, convinced him to compete. Evans and James were the first runners to achieve times below 44 seconds in the 400 metres.[2]
Rank | Lane | Athlete | Nation | Time (hand) | Time (auto) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6 | Lee Evans |
United States | 43.8 | 43.86 | WR | |
2 | Larry James | United States | 43.9 | 43.97 | ||
1 | Ron Freeman | United States | 44.4 | 44.41 | ||
4 | 5 | Amadou Gakou | Senegal | 45.0 | 45.01 | |
5 | 3 | Martin Jellinghaus | West Germany | 45.3 | 45.33 | |
6 | 4 | Tegegne Bezabeh | Ethiopia | 45.4 | 45.42 | |
7 | 7 | Andrzej Badeński | Poland | 45.4 | 45.42 | |
8 | 8 | Amos Omolo | Uganda | 47.6 | 47.61 |
References
- ^ "Athletics at the 1968 Mexico City Summer Games: Men's 400 metres". sports-reference.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
- ^ a b c d "400 metres, Men". Olympedia. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
- ^ Official Report, vol. 3, p. 522.