2012 OG: m400–Kirani James (Grenada) 43.94 (9 x W)

[Marlow]

McQuay.

He's in lane 9 with.... in the same semi with Kirani James, Chris Brown and Jonathon Borlee....

I fancy (hey, it's London) McQuay's chances in lane 9 of a semi. He will be able to run his own race plan, rather than have it dictated to him by someone else going out too fast or too slow. He can let James go in the final straight (assuming James is gunning for a top seed in the final) and hold-off/reel-in the other two as need be. Brilliant, eh what?

[ATK]

As for medalling... McQuay has the better chance IF he makes it to the finals... that being said though I doubt he'd have medalled looking at his form from the first round compared to that of the other top athletes. But as I said.... once one makes it to the finals, anything can happen.

Its almost impossible to make judgment based off the first round.

Nellums in lane 6 with Santos and Kevin inside him, is pretty much the same as McQuay's lane 9 in his heat. Both with their major competition inside them.

I would pace a high bet on McQuay getting a auto Q than Nellums getting one.

[cladthin]

I agree that LM should have either pulled himself out (I said so earlier in the thread) or we need to make a change to the system that takes the potential of doing the right thing out of an athlete's hands who won't do the right thing.

Unless they consider some type of UK-like funding for athletes, the governing body shouldn't have any such power when it comes to individual events. If USATF didn't help them "get there", they certainly shouldn't have the right to take away their opportunity...even if it seems wasted.

I'm not sure on that one. There are positive and negative aspects about keeping the decision totally within the hands of the athlete and we just witnessed the down side of that.

I totally believe in the "priviledge"/honor aspect of representing one's country and Merritt just selfishly took away the opportunity for another to take that spot. Merritt knows we are trying to send our best and for him to insist on running in that condition was not in keeping with what a team captain, of all people, should be demonstrating. He's had weeks to rehab which we've heard he's done and weeks to train and test it out.

[bman]

McQuay is a 44.4 runner he will make the final easily if he is healthy. John went way too fast yesterday, this will kill him as it has in the past (2010 euros). I don't know that I would pick John against McQuay anyway. I am not sure James is faster either, but it won't matter in this heat because unless John is poised to run well into the 43s, 3rd place won't be able to hang with the the quality of semis that McQuay and James have shown they are capable of running. Look at McQuay's semis and finals from NCAAs and USAs the last two years. What you will see is a remarkable record of running really fast and then running again the next day. If he is faster than he was at USAs, which is likely, given his linear improvement over the past two years and the fact that he has never ran a summer season, he may well be the favorite to win gold, forget make the final. Anyone who questions the latter is on crack.

[ATK]

he may well be the favorite to win gold, forget make the final. Anyone who questions the latter is on crack.

James is probably the favorite based on pure talent, but on tactics and race smarts, I would pick McQuay.

Lets see how the semis play out first though, cant make judgement off the heats.

[Grasshopper]

I have a gut feeling that Santos is the dark-horse to win this event. He looked smooth and easy in the prelims.

[Randy Treadway]

How did Pistorius get placed into lane 5 of the semis???

[j-a-m]

Gordon 44.58 huge PB, Pinder 2nd

[ATK]

Wow nice PB, but he was running hard.
Very close for Pinder.

[bman]

Gordon Pinder ans Soloman were all running flat out there.

[Grasshopper]

The future looks exciting for this event (not necessarily fast, but competitive) as there's a lot of youngsters near the top. Just heard them say that Solomon, the top Australian who just finished 3rd in semi #1 is only 19. Santos is only 18, and James is 19. Hopefully they can all stay healthy and continue to improve.

[j-a-m]

How did Pistorius get placed into lane 5 of the semis???

He was (barely) one of the five fastest 2nd place finishers, which makes him one of the top 12 seeds, which gets him the random draw of one of the four preferred lanes.

[ATK]

This second heat will probobably be fast since they know they have to run 44 to qualify.


Wait Pistorius is running in the Paralympic games as well?!
What?!!

[j-a-m]

Gordon Pinder ans Soloman were all running flat out there.

Yes, and first semi was probably the easiest one.

[Grasshopper]

Pistorious will likely have to run sub-44.97 to make the final, as I doubt he'll finish 2nd in this stacked semi heat.

[bman]

What happened to McQuay.... Geeez

[EPelle]

James looked very, very easy against Borlee, McQuay and company in that 2nd heat.

[j-a-m]

Kirani James easy win in tough second semi, Brown 2nd, J Borlee 3rd, McQuay only 4th

[Grasshopper]

Nellum needs to redeem the USA in the final semi as I don't think McQuay will make it in. When was the last time there was no American in the Olympic 400m final (not including '80)?

[Weights&Shoes]

Classy move by Kirani James asking for Oscar's bib.

[j-a-m]

McQuay out; so far Solomon fastest q and J. Borlee 2nd q

[ATK]

McQuay did what he had to do, go out hard since he was on the outside.

[EPelle]

Six sub-45,00 in the first two semi-final heats.

[Conor Dary]

Pistorious will likely have to run sub-44.97 to make the final, as I doubt he'll finish 2nd in this stacked semi heat.

He got last.

[croflash]

James looked very, very easy against Borlee, McQuay and company in that 2nd heat.

James still has that certain touch of invincibility, although it sounds kind of ludicrous I admit. With Merritt out, he is definitely the favorite.

[ATK]

Also note this is Chris Browns fastest time since 2008 when he ran a PR.

[EPelle]

When was the last time there was no American in the Olympic 400m final (not including '80)?

This would be the first for the USA in the modern era.

[ATK]

No Americans in the finals!!

When is the last time this happened?!

[j-a-m]

Doesn't look like anyone's gonna beat Kirani James.

[Grasshopper]

Doesn't look like Nellum made it Would've been a great story for him.

[Grasshopper]

Doesn't look like anyone's gonna beat Kirani James.

I don't agree. I think Santos will give him a very serious run for his money. The real battle will be for bronze.

[EPelle]

Eight sub-45,00 in the semis.

[t_monk]

As I predicted.... Nellum is the best placed American.... Even though there is no American in the finals of the 400m.

[Weights&Shoes]

LOL at the USA. Not one person in the final, what a sad joke. Michael Johnson must be annoyed.

[mal]

James for the win.
But I am no fan of letting Pistorious run, but you have to appreciate his monumental achievement.
Two Borlees in the final is amazing.
Love that a young Oz lad made it.