Five of the seven heats were won with times quicker than 49 seconds,
with Matete running the fastest ever preliminary in 48.21. The standard
was very high, and continued in the semi-finals, with 14 of the 16 con-
testants running under 49 seconds. Heading the list was local man
Adkins, who won the first semi-final with 47.76 from Swedish veteran
Nylander, who set a national record of 48.21. Behind them US Trials
winner Bryan Bronson ran out of gas in the last 100m and finished last
in 50.32. Davis, a recently converted 400m man, won the other race in
47.91. Behind him Teixeira, Robinson (both 48.28), Neil Gardner
(JAM, 48.30), Laurent Ottoz, son of 1968 110m hurdles medallist Eddy
(48.52), Ibou Faye (SEN, 48.84) and Marc Dollendorf (BEL – 48.91)
all ran lifetime bests. Only Matete, third in 48.28, missed his personal
record.
Nylander, in his last serious attempt at a championship, ran hard
from the gun, leading to halfway in 22.9, with Adkins and Robinson
right with him. Matete, in fifth at the fifth hurdle, and not enthralled
with his lane 1 draw, moved up, and he and Adkins were level at hur-
dles 8-10, with Nylander 4m behind and a metre clear of Davis, de
Araújo and Robinson. Adkins accelerated away from Matete on the
run-in despite being half blinded from all the camera flashbulbs in the
crowd, while Davis astonishingly gained 4m on Matete in the last 40m,
leaving Nylander to settle for fourth despite setting his second national
record within 22 hours.
USA
ZAM
SWE
AUS
ITA
BRA
HUN
ZIM
GBR
JAM
SEN
BEL
JPN
NGR
MRI
ESP
POR
QAT
SLO
KEN
ROM
MDA
KSA
RSA
POL
SVK
GUI
RUS
LAT
PUR
SUI
PAN
IRL
GUY
PNG
