Fastest non-American-Wayde Van Niekerk (RSA)-43.48
Wayde Van Niekirk (RSA) became the fourth fastest man over the 400m and the first non-American. He is the second caucasian (after Jeremy Wariner-USA) to run under 44 seconds.
Fastest time for second place-Lashawn Merritt (USA)-43.65
LaShawn Merritt (USA) is the first athlete at the World championships (and also at a the Olympics Games) has run ever so fast (43.65) and lost. Previous best second place at WC was Merritt himself when he ran 43.96 to finish second behind Jeremy Wariner in 2007. Merritt also better the previous best second place clocking all-time of 43.91 by Butch Reyolds (USA) at the at the 1996 US Olympic trials.
With his time Merritt would have won ten of the previous 14 World Champs and tied for first in one (1993).
Fastest time for third place-Kirani James (GRN)-43.78
Grenadian Kirani James’ 43.78 is the quickest third place time. He is faster than the previous best of 44.31 by Mexican Alejandro Cadenas when he won the bronze medal at the 1999 World Champs. James also better the all-time best third place clocking of 44.09 by Danny Everett (USA) and Alvin Harrison (USA). Everett’ time was run when he won bronze at the 1988 Olympic Games while Harrison posted his clocking in his third place finish at the 1996 US Olympic trials. Kirani James also became the first to dip under 44 and finish third.
James’ times would have been good enough to win nine of the previous 14 World titles and nine of the last 12 Olympic crowns.
Fastest time for fourth place-Luguelin Santos (DOM)-44.11
Luguelin Santos (DOM) clocked 44.11 for fourth and is faster than the previous best for that place at a World Champs. He beat the 44.45 by Chris Brown (BAH) in 2007. At the Olympic Games, Santos surpassed the 44.25 by Ian Morris (TTO) when he was fourth in 1992.
Most sub 44 clockings in one Championships-five
Five sub-44 runs were recorded in Beijing. Three were run in the finals, the most ever in one race. The previous best was two (also in one race) was set in the finals of 2007 World Champs, the 1968 & 1988 Olympics finals, the 1988 & 1996 US trials, 2014 Lausanne and Oregon Diamond Leagues.
Yousef Ahmed Masrahi (KSA) and Rusheen McDonald (JAM) both ran 43.93 in the first round to register the faster ever preliminary time at the World World or Olympic Games. Merritt’s held the previous best first round time (44.35) set the 2011 World Champs.
Multiple sub-44 runs-Van Neikirk (2), James (6) and Merritt (7)
Van Nierkirk, James and Merritt join the list of eight men who have dipped under 44 seconds more than once. Van Niekirk has two (43.48, 43.96), James-six (43.74, 43.78, 43.94, 43.95, 43.96, 43.97) and Merritt-seven (43.65, 43.74, 43.75, 43.92, 43.96, 43.97, 43.98).World record holder Michael Johnson (USA) heads the list with 22 sub-44 clockings ahead of Jeremy Wariner (9). Butch Reynolds (USA)-four, Danny Everett (USA)-two, Quincy Watts (USA)-two are the others with more than one sub-44 postings.
