Canadian Tyler Christopher is apparently quite pleased with his late season decision to make the trip to Valencia. Indeed, in the first of two 400m semi-finals, the 24-year-old Canadian looked the medal favourite that his pre-Valencia world-leading 45.80 would indicate.
Christopher and Swede Johan Wissman were first to the break, with the Canadian keeping the advantage throughout. But while Wissman struggled over the final 75 metres to keep his composure and his runner-up position, Christopher coasted to the line for the easy 46.57 victory, to Wissman’s 46.86.
Australian Sean Wroe, a semifinalist in Osaka last year, closed hard with a PB 47.13 to steal the third qualifying spot from Russian Denis Alekseyev (47.18) to earn a surprise appearance in the final.
Chris Brown was the picture of composed confidence in the second heat. Taking the lead at the break, he never looked back en route to a solid victory in 46.68. The 29-year-old Bahamian record holder (44.45 outdoors, 45.78 indoors), looks poised to move up from his bronze medal finish of two years ago.
Costa Rica’s Nery Brenes, who just might be the 400m discovery of these championships, passed Maksim Dyldin (46.92) and Chris Lloyd of Dominica with a long sustained dash over the final 50m to take second in 46.92. Lloyd too was credited with 46.92, but the edge was given to the Russian for the final lane in Sunday afternoon’s final.
American David Neville (48.18) was a distant sixth in the first heat, and did not advance. For the first time in the history of these championships, no American will contest the final.
Bob Ramsak for the IAAF
