Another sub-48 for Bershawn Jackson, this time in Brussels (© Jiro Mochizuki)
Up to half a dozen athletes will fancy their chances of striking gold in what could serve up one of the most intriguing races of the championships.
World leader L.J Van Zyl of South Africa ran a national record 47.66 in Pretoria in February, matched that mark in Ostrava and has registered the four fastest times in the world this year.
Nonetheless, he has not dipped below 48 seconds since May and the African champion’s form has waned in the past couple of months. If he can rediscover his best, though, then the former World junior gold medallist has the potential to triumph in Daegu.
The USA has won gold in this event at each of the last three editions of the World Championships and they are once again predictably strong.
Jeshua Anderson (47.93) was a surprise winner of the national championships and he will be a serious factor in Korea.
The 22-year-old is a former World Junior champion, although a modest sixth place finish in Monaco in 49.93 last month was not the result he was seeking. He was considerably faster in his final tune-up, taking the World University Games title unpressed in 49.03.
His compatriot Bershawn Jackson (47.93) landed this title in 2005 and ‘Batman’ has enjoyed another consistent season on the European circuit with a series of top three finishers.
Nonetheless, Jackson has not quite hit the same form as last year although his championship nous and experience means he should not be written off.
The US contingent is further bolstered by the presence of two-time Olympic champion Angelo Taylor (47.94). The 32-year-old veteran has never landed a World title but he appears to be rounding into form at the right time after an impressive victory in Monaco in 47.97 last month.
Defending champion Kerron Clement (48.74) completes the US quartet, however on his 2011 form he will struggle to complete a hat-trick of World titles. Clement has been well below his best this season only once dipping under the 49-second barrier and that was back in May.
Another genuine challenger is European champion Dai Greene (48.20). The British athlete proved last year he could beat the very best by taking victory at the IAAF Continental Cup in Split in 47.88. This season he has been no less impressive with Diamond League wins in Lausanne and Birmingham and he should be a serious contender.
The second string South African in this event is Cornel Fredericks. The 21-year-old recorded 48.14 to finish second at the South African Championships in April to emerge as a top-class force. Fredericks has struggled to replicate that success on the subsequent European circuit and it will interesting to see how he performs in Korea.
Javier Culson landed a World silver behind Clement in Berlin two years ago and has the quality to podium again. The Puerto Rican bounced back from a disappointing fourth at the Central American and Caribbean Championships to record a season’s best time of 48.33 to win in London earlier this month.
Jehue Gordon was just 17 when he finished a surprising fourth at the 2009 World Championships and the Trinidad & Tobago athlete competes in Korea. Last year he became World junior champion and a season’s best of 48.75 to land his national title on 14 Aug hints he is rounding in to good shape.
The Central American and Caribbean champion Leford Green set a personal best of 49.03 to win that title and the Jamaican is joined by his compatriot Isa Phillips (48.94) in Daegu.
Greene is joined on the British team by the one-two at last month’s European Under-23 Championships Jack Green (48.98) and Nathan Woodward (48.71). Also entered is the 2001 and 2003 world champion Felix Sanchez (49.41) of the Dominican Republic.
Steve Landells for the IAAF
