Athletics at the 1968 Summer Olympics – Men's 400 metres

Last updated

Contents

Men's 400 metres
at the Games of the XIX Olympiad
Venue University Olympic Stadium, Mexico City
Dates16–18 October 1968
Competitors55 from 36 nations
Winning time43.86 WR
Medalists
Gold medal icon.svg Lee Evans
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Silver medal icon.svg Larry James
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Bronze medal icon.svg Ron Freeman
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
  1964
1972  
Official Video Highlights @1:04:38 Video on YouTube TV-icon-2.svg
Official Video Highlights @1:04:38 Video on YouTube

The men's 400 metres was an event at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. The competition was held between 16–18 of October. [1] Times are listed as both hand timing and automatic timing. Hand timing was the official time used in the 1968 Olympics. Fifty-five athletes from 36 nations competed. [2] The maximum number of athletes per nation had been set at 3 since the 1930 Olympic Congress. The event was won by Lee Evans of the United States, the fourth consecutive and 11th overall title in the event by an American. The Americans swept the podium, the second time a podium sweep occurred in the men's 400 metres (the United States had previously done it in 1904, when the nation had 10 of the 12 competitors).

Background

This was the sixteenth appearance of the event, which is one of 12 athletics events to have been held at every Summer Olympics. Andrzej Badeński of Poland, who had won bronze in 1964, was the only finalist from the Tokyo Games to compete again in 1968. The United States team was "dominant in this event in 1968"; Larry James held the world record at 44.1 seconds, Lee Evans was the AAU and NCAA champion, and even the third member of the team, Ron Freeman, ran well below Olympic record time at the U.S. trials. [2]

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 recordFlag of the United States.svg  Larry James  (USA)44.1 Echo Summit, United States 14 September 1968
Olympic recordFlag of the United States.svg  Otis Davis  (USA)44.9 Rome, Italy 6 September 1960

Lee Evans broke the Olympic record with a 44.8 second run in the second semifinal; both Larry James and Martin Jellinghaus matched the old record in that same semifinal. All three Americans broke the new record in the final, with Evans (43.8 seconds) and James (43.9 seconds) also coming in under the world record time. Evans' auto-timed result of 43.86 seconds was not official under the rules at that point (which used hand-timed results) but was later recognized as the initial world record upon the switch to automatic timing as official in 1977.

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 Central Standard Time (UTC-6)

DateTimeRound
Wednesday, 16 October 196815:40Round 1
Thursday, 17 October 196815:20
18:00
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Friday, 18 October 196815:50Final

Results

Round 1

The top four runners in each of the eight heats advanced to the quarterfinal round.

Heat 1

RankAthleteNationTime (hand)Time (auto)Notes
1 Lee Evans Flag of the United States.svg  United States 45.345.40Q
2 Claver Kamanya Flag of Tanzania.svg  Tanzania 45.745.74Q
3 Christian Nicolau Flag of France.svg  France 45.745.77Q
4 Sam Bugri Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana 45.845.88Q
5 Manfred Kinder Flag of the German Olympic Team (1960-1968).svg  West Germany 46.946.95
6 Ezra Burnham Flag of Barbados.svg  Barbados 47.947.94

Heat 2

RankAthleteNationTime (hand)Time (auto)Notes
1 Andrzej Badeński Flag of Poland (1928-1980).svg  Poland 45.545.52Q
2 Clifton Forbes Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 45.745.75Q
3 Larry James Flag of the United States.svg  United States 45.845.83Q
4 Daniel Rudisha Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya 46.946.96Q
5 Angelo Hussein Flag of Sudan (1956-1970).svg  Sudan 47.747.80
6 Victor Asirvatham Flag of Malaysia.svg  Malaysia 48.048.02

Heat 3

RankAthleteNationTime (hand)Time (auto)Notes
1 Amadou Gakou Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal 45.345.39Q
2 Tegegne Bezabeh Flag of Ethiopia (1897-1974).svg  Ethiopia 45.545.60Q
3 Ron Freeman Flag of the United States.svg  United States 45.645.67Q
4 Rodobaldo Díaz Flag of Cuba (3-2).svg  Cuba 46.446.48Q
5 Ramon Magariños Flag of Spain (1945-1977).svg  Spain 46.946.92
6 Anthony Egwunyenga Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 47.347.37
7 Francisco Menocal Flag of Nicaragua.svg  Nicaragua 49.149.14

Heat 4

RankAthleteNationTime (hand)Time (auto)Notes
1 Martin Jellinghaus Flag of the German Olympic Team (1960-1968).svg  West Germany 46.446.50Q
2 Pedro Grajales Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia 46.746.73Q
3 Michael Zerbes Flag of the German Olympic Team (1960-1968).svg  East Germany 46.846.84Q
4 Ross MacKenzie Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 47.047.05Q
5 Howard Davies Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain 47.247.30
6 Jacques Pennewaert Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 48.548.55
7 José Astacio Flag of El Salvador.svg  El Salvador 52.952.92

Heat 5

RankAthleteNationTime (hand)Time (auto)Notes
1 Amos Omolo Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda 45.845.85Q
2 Munyoro Nyamau Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya 45.945.91Q
3 Jean-Claude Nallet Flag of France.svg  France 45.945.93Q
4 Helmar Müller Flag of the German Olympic Team (1960-1968).svg  West Germany 45.945.98Q
5 José Jacinto Hidalgo Flag of Venezuela (1954-2006).png  Venezuela 46.346.32
6 Carlos Martínez Flag of Cuba (3-2).svg  Cuba 47.247.28
7 Tony Harper Flag of Bermuda (1910-1999).svg  Bermuda 49.149.18

Heat 6

RankAthleteNationTime (hand)Time (auto)Notes
1 Jan Werner Flag of Poland (1928-1980).svg  Poland 45.945.97Q
2 Martin Winbolt-Lewis Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain 46.246.27Q
3 Mamman Makama Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 46.446.49Q
4 Sergio Bello Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 46.546.54Q
5 Eddy Téllez Flag of Cuba (3-2).svg  Cuba 46.746.80
6 Noel Carroll Flag of Ireland (3-2).svg  Ireland 46.846.83
7 José L'Oficial Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg  Dominican Republic 47.947.93

Heat 7

RankAthleteNationTime (hand)Time (auto)Notes
1 Naftali Bon Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya 46.246.21Q
2 Jan Balachowski Flag of Poland (1928-1980).svg  Poland 46.246.23Q
3 Musa Dogon Yaro Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 46.246.24Q
4 Gilles Bertould Flag of France.svg  France 46.346.31Q
5 Don Domansky Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 46.446.46
6 Melesio Piña Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 46.846.81
7 Leslie Miller Flag of the Bahamas (1964-1973).svg  Bahamas 46.946.99
8 Yoyaga Dit Coulibaly Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast 50.050.11

Heat 8

RankAthleteNationTime (hand)Time (auto)Notes
1 Wolfgang Müller Flag of the German Olympic Team (1960-1968).svg  East Germany 46.646.66Q
2 Colin Campbell Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain 46.646.66Q
3 Sergio Ottolina Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 46.746.78Q
4 Juan Carlos Dyrzka Flag of Argentina (1861-2010).svg  Argentina 47.047.02Q
5 George Simon Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago 47.947.95
6 Omar Ghizlat Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 48.248.23
7 Kun Min-Mu Flag of the Republic of China.svg  Taiwan 49.049.07

Quarterfinals

The top four runners in each of the four heats advanced to the semifinal round.

Quarterfinal 1

RankAthleteNationTime (hand)Time (auto)Notes
1 Amadou Gakou Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal 45.545.56Q
2 Larry James Flag of the United States.svg  United States 45.745.77Q
3 Claver Kamanya Flag of Tanzania.svg  Tanzania 46.046.03Q
4 Ross MacKenzie Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 46.146.15Q
5 Musa Dogon Yaro Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 46.146.19
6 Colin Campbell Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain 46.346.35
7 Naftali Bon Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya 46.346.39
8 Sergio Bello Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 46.846.84

Quarterfinal 2

RankAthleteNationTime (hand)Time (auto)Notes
1 Amos Omolo Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda 45.345.33Q
2 Lee Evans Flag of the United States.svg  United States 45.545.54Q
3 Munyoro Nyamau Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya 46.146.12Q
4 Wolfgang Müller Flag of the German Olympic Team (1960-1968).svg  East Germany 46.246.32Q
5 Jan Balachowski Flag of Poland (1928-1980).svg  Poland 46.346.33
6 Rodobaldo Díaz Flag of Cuba (3-2).svg  Cuba 46.346.38
7 Juan Carlos Dyrzka Flag of Argentina (1861-2010).svg  Argentina 46.846.85
Christian Nicolau Flag of France.svg  France DNS

Quarterfinal 3

RankAthleteNationTime (hand)Time (auto)Notes
1 Jan Werner Flag of Poland (1928-1980).svg  Poland 45.645.63Q
2 Martin Jellinghaus Flag of the German Olympic Team (1960-1968).svg  West Germany 45.946.00Q
3 Tegegne Bezabeh Flag of Ethiopia (1897-1974).svg  Ethiopia 46.046.02Q
4 Sam Bugri Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana 46.046.08Q
5 Clifton Forbes Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 46.246.29
6 Daniel Rudisha Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya 47.647.68
7 Gilles Bertould Flag of France.svg  France 48.948.91
Sergio Ottolina Flag of Italy.svg  Italy DNS

Quarterfinal 4

RankAthleteNationTime (hand)Time (auto)Notes
1 Ron Freeman Flag of the United States.svg  United States 45.345.31Q
2 Andrzej Badeński Flag of Poland (1928-1980).svg  Poland 45.645.60Q
3 Helmar Müller Flag of the German Olympic Team (1960-1968).svg  West Germany 45.745.78Q
4 Jean-Claude Nallet Flag of France.svg  France 45.745.80Q
5 Martin Winbolt-Lewis Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain 45.945.91
6 Michael Zerbes Flag of the German Olympic Team (1960-1968).svg  East Germany 46.146.19
7 Mamman Makama Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 46.446.41
8 Pedro Grajales Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia 46.546.53

Semifinals

Top four in each of the two heats advanced to the final round.

Semifinal 1

RankAthleteNationTime (hand)Time (auto)Notes
1 Amadou Gakou Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal 45.145.17Q
2 Ron Freeman Flag of the United States.svg  United States 45.445.47Q
3 Andrzej Badeński Flag of Poland (1928-1980).svg  Poland 45.445.50Q
4 Tegegne Bezabeh Flag of Ethiopia (1897-1974).svg  Ethiopia 45.545.60Q
5 Sam Burgi Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana 45.945.92
6 Helmar Müller Flag of the German Olympic Team (1960-1968).svg  West Germany 46.246.22
7 Claver Kamanya Flag of Tanzania.svg  Tanzania 46.246.22
8 Wolfgang Müller Flag of the German Olympic Team (1960-1968).svg  East Germany 48.348.37

Semifinal 2

RankAthleteNationTime (hand)Time (auto)Notes
1 Lee Evans Flag of the United States.svg  United States 44.844.83Q, OR
2 Larry James Flag of the United States.svg  United States 44.944.88Q
3 Martin Jellinghaus Flag of the German Olympic Team (1960-1968).svg  West Germany 44.945.06Q
4 Amos Omolo Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda 45.445.52Q
5 Jan Werner Flag of Poland (1928-1980).svg  Poland 45.745.75
6 Munyoro Nyamau Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya 46.346.37
7 Jean-Claude Nallet Flag of France.svg  France 49.049.01
8 Ross MacKenzie Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 49.249.28

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]

RankLaneAthleteNationTime (hand)Time (auto)Notes
Gold medal icon.svg6 Lee Evans Flag of the United States.svg  United States 43.843.86 WR
Silver medal icon.svg2 Larry James Flag of the United States.svg  United States 43.943.97
Bronze medal icon.svg1 Ron Freeman Flag of the United States.svg  United States 44.444.41
45 Amadou Gakou Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal 45.045.01
53 Martin Jellinghaus Flag of the German Olympic Team (1960-1968).svg  West Germany 45.345.33
64 Tegegne Bezabeh Flag of Ethiopia (1897-1974).svg  Ethiopia 45.445.42
77 Andrzej Badeński Flag of Poland (1928-1980).svg  Poland 45.445.42
88 Amos Omolo Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda 47.647.61

References

  1. "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.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "400 metres, Men". Olympedia. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  3. Official Report, vol. 3, p. 522.