¶2012 OG: w400–Sanya Richards-Ross (US) 49.55

[Weights&Shoes]

400m FINAL START-LIST:

400 Metres - W Final

2 2213 Novlene Williams-Mills [JAMAICA]
3 2209 Rosemarie Whyte [JAMAICA]
4 3321 Deedee Trotter [UNITED STATES]
5 2873 Antonina Krivoshapka [RUSSIA]
6 3313 Sanya Richards-Ross [UNITED STATES]
7 1214 Amantle Montsho [BOTSWANA]
8 1866 Christine Ohuruogu [GREAT BRITAIN & N.I.]
9 3307 Francena McCorory [UNITED STATES]

[GDAWG]

It's redemption time for Sanya. Let's see if she can pull it off.

[Weights&Shoes]

Yikes at that lineup. Would've liked Sanya one lane down, so she can hunt the whole field.

[guru]

Finals set up perfectly for SRR

[Weights&Shoes]

McCorory, SMH. See what happens?

[EPelle]

Krivoshapka bucks the doesn't run fast in Russia trend, runs 49,81 in a nail-biting finish.

Outside Russia you mean EPelle?!

Certainly. Thanks for catching that mistake.

[ATK]

I think Sanya showed at Trials that she is almost impervious to what goes on around her. If someone goes out to hard, or to slow it shouldn't affect her. She knows her race plan and is close to mastering it now.

[notlef70]

Dang!! How did Francena end up in lane 8? I guess that even though she got 2nd in her heat, her time did not merit a preferred lane... Sad... At least Dee Dee is running great!! Maybe she can medal!!!! No matter what SRR is about to drop a BOMB on them... It is going to take a high 48 or low 49 to get the gold... So if SRR runs HER race, she will win... We have 3 American women in the 400 meter dash olympic final and the 100 meter dash final.... When was the last time that this has happened in both races at the same olympic games?

[GDAWG]

I think Sanya pulls this one out.

[tandf918]

SRR is gonna blow the field away tomorrow.

Her composure is unmatched right now.

[Weights&Shoes]

Dang!! How did Francena end up in lane 8? I guess that even though she got 2nd in her heat, her time did not merit a preferred lane... Sad... At least Dee Dee is running great!! Maybe she can medal!!!! No matter what SRR is about to drop a BOMB on them... It is going to take a high 48 or low 49 to get the gold... So if SRR runs HER race, she will win... We have 3 American women in the 400 meter dash olympic final and the 100 meter dash final.... When was the last time that this has happened in both races at the same olympic games?

With the new rules. Only the winner of each semi-final, plus the fastest 2nd place finisher gets the prime middle lanes. Had McCorory ran through the tape and now ease back she'd be in a prime lane.

[tm71]

Out of all finalists Sanya has expended the least energy

[croflash]

I'll repeat - being in lane 3, 5 or 7 won't make any difference in this stadium.

[tandf918]

Sorry if anyone disagrees, but the prelims today could be very telling about tomorrows final.

Seeing Trotter run down Krivoshapka was telling enough... for me at least.

[Weights&Shoes]

I'll repeat - being in lane 3, 5 or 7 won't make any difference in this stadium.

Explain, just curious.

[j-a-m]

Out of all finalists Sanya has expended the least energy

which is good not only for the 400 final, but also for her chances in the 200.

[ATK]

Just to throw out a prediction, I say SRR in sub 48.5

I honestly think its possible though.

[Weights&Shoes]

I have to go back and watch Perec's fun in the '96 final again later tonight, lol.

[Dutra5]

I think the final will be won in something around 49.10 with SRR the most likely winner.

[ldnbloke]

I hope the final will be won in 49.55-49.65 ))

[ATK]

I hope the final will be won in 49.55-49.65 ))

Looks like a time CO will most likely run.

After the semis though, the silver looks wide open.

[croflash]

I'll repeat - being in lane 3, 5 or 7 won't make any difference in this stadium.

Explain, just curious.

The radius is not an issue in this stadium. If someone is affected by his lane, it is because he or she is convinced that a certain lane will turn out to be a disadvantage. I'm simply not buying into that. Races and medals have been won out of all lanes, it's just that the better athletes usually end up with better times in the semi-finals and thus get one of the middle lanes.

[iain]

Croflash, I agree to some extent. I do wonder, why are the worst qualifiers put in the inside lanes? I'm with MJ on this one 'in lane 1 you can see all of your competitors, lane 1 is a great lane'

[Pelpa]

These ominous Russians.

[notlef70]

Out of all finalists Sanya has expended the least energy

which is good not only for the 400 final, but also for her chances in the 200.

Yep.. Hopefully she can medal in the 200 too!!

[Weights&Shoes]

Croflash, I agree to some extent. I do wonder, why are the worst qualifiers put in the inside lanes? I'm with MJ on this one 'in lane 1 you can see all of your competitors, lane 1 is a great lane'

Too bad it didn't help Sanya at last year's worlds.

croflash - Thanks, was just curious to the reasoning. Appreciate the breakdown.

[Randy Treadway]

Croflash, I agree to some extent. I do wonder, why are the worst qualifiers put in the inside lanes? I'm with MJ on this one 'in lane 1 you can see all of your competitors, lane 1 is a great lane'

I noticed that in London, since it's a 9-lane track, they're placing competitors in the 400 and 400H in lanes 2 through 9 and leaving lane 1 empty.
That said, you're argument is, if you're inside everybody else you can see more of what your competitors are doing.

I'm not sure that, in a 400, seeing what your competitors are doing is any particular advantage- it's not as much a tactical race as 800 and up. You have to stay in lanes the whole way, so it's not like you have to watch your competitors to avoid getting boxed in. (the relays are a totally different story of course)
In fact, seeing somebody like Krivoshapka go out the first 200 like a Russian missile could make an athlete panic unless they're really focused on their OWN race. Who cares what Krivoshapka's doing- just run the race the way you and your coach planned it. If it helps keep that focus by being out in lane 7, fine.

[Daisy]

Races and medals have been won out of all lanes

John Akii-Bua jumps to mind. Gold in 400m hurdles in Munich from lane 1. And he broke the world record. Angelo Taylor in Sydney is another.

[ATK]

I noticed that in London, since it's a 9-lane track, they're placing competitors in the 400 and 400H in lanes 2 through 9 and leaving lane 1 empty.

They are actually doing this for all races run in lanes. From 100m, and probably even the 800m.

[Pelpa]

Where is Trackdaddy?

[Randy Treadway]

Just to throw out a prediction, I say SRR in sub 48.5

I honestly think its possible though.

SRR yes, but in 49.1 or 49.2.
I think there will be three or so others bunched around 49.5-49.7

[CookyMonzta]

Yikes at that lineup. Would've liked Sanya one lane down, so she can hunt the whole field.

She'll be alright. She can crack Montsho's stagger on the back straight (like Quincy Watts in 1992) and lay Big O. low by the time she gets on the turn. Antonina is who she has to worry about, and maybe Francena if she decides to go crazy-fast in lane 9 and refuses to give up anything by the time she hits the stretch. OR if she is pushed in the first 200, 49.0x if they fold. She will run this like she runs in Zürich, and maybe then some.

[Randy Treadway]

I noticed that in London, since it's a 9-lane track, they're placing competitors in the 400 and 400H in lanes 2 through 9 and leaving lane 1 empty.

They are actually doing this for all races run in lanes. From 100m, and probably even the 800m.

I remember the Heptathlon 800 starting in lanes on a one-turn stagger today, but I don't recall whether lane one was empty.
Tried to check the stored video on nbc's streaming site, but forgot that they're blocking replay streaming until after their U.S. prime time replay.

[Randy Treadway]

I remember the Heptathlon 800 starting in lanes on a one-turn stagger today, but I don't recall whether lane one was empty.
Tried to check the stored video on nbc's streaming site, but forgot that they're blocking replay streaming until after their U.S. prime time replay.

Okay, I found a bootleg video copy of Ennis' heptathlon 800 race today, and they did assign an athlete to lane 1 in the one-turn stagger scheme. So I guess leaving lane 1 open is being done just for the 400 and shorter races.

[Dutra5]

I remember the Heptathlon 800 starting in lanes on a one-turn stagger today, but I don't recall whether lane one was empty.
Tried to check the stored video on nbc's streaming site, but forgot that they're blocking replay streaming until after their U.S. prime time replay.

Okay, I found a bootleg copy of Ennis' heptathlon 800 race today, and they did assign an athlete to lane 1 in the one-turn stagger scheme. So I guess leaving lane 1 open is being done just for the 400 and shorter races.

I don't think there's any plan to have 9 finalists in the 800m either. The only reason it's done in the multi's is because all of the competitors are going to run no matter how many lanes the track is equipped with.