Previews14 Mar 2016


Preview: men's 400m – IAAF World Indoor Championships Portland 2016

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Pavel Maslak wins the 400m at the 2014 IAAF World Indoor Championships in Sopot (© Getty Images)

The men’s 400m promises another mouth-watering final with top quarter-milers ready to show their speed and tactics over the two-lap race.

Czech Republic’s Pavel Maslak has been preparing well for his title defence as shown with his 46.02 victory at the Glasgow Grand Prix.

A trio of Caribbean men are ready to leave their mark at the Oregon Convention Center. Grenada’s Bralon Taplin, who has posted the two fastest times in the world this season, wants to emulate his compatriot Alleyne Francique, who won world indoor 400m titles in 2004 and 2006.

Olympic bronze medallist Lalonde Gordon and teammate Deon Lendore will be aiming to place Trinidad and Tobago on the podium. Gordon wants to erase his disappointment from two years ago when he failed to get a medal, finishing fifth, after arriving in Sopot as that season's fastest man on the entry list.

The host nation’s duo of Vernon Norwood and Kyle Clemons also carry big hopes to win USA’s first world indoor 400m title since Tyree Washington’s victory in 2003.

Since his first indoor race last year when he set an Asian record of 45.39, Qatari teenager Abdalelah Haroun has never been beaten on the boards. Last month he broke the world indoor 500m best and then won the Asian indoor title three days later. He could be set to become the youngest ever finalist, medallist or champion in the 400m at the World Indoors.

Present in every final since 2008, including the 2012 win in a championships record of 45.11, Nery Brenes of Costa Rica should also be contending for the top places.

Javier Clavelo Robinson for the IAAF

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