Quincy Hall, Kirani James & Mathew Hudson Smith set the tone for explosive 400m final

Quincy Hall, Kirani James & Mathew Hudson Smith set the tone for explosive 400m final

Festus Chuma 21:00 - 06.08.2024

Top performers Quincy Hall, Kirani James and Matthew Hudson-Smith qualify for the men's 400m final at the Paris Olympics.

Quincy Hall sealed his place in the men’s 400m final following a lung-bursting run in the semi-finals at the Paris Olympics on Tuesday.

Representing the USA, Hall clocked an impressive time of 43.95 seconds in the opening heat to secure his position at the top of the leaderboard.

Joining him in the final is Jereem Richards from Trinidad and Tobago, who finished second with a time of 44.33 seconds.

Busang Collen Kebinatshipi of Botswana claimed the third position, narrowly missing the final cut with a time of 44.43 seconds, while Charles Dobson from Great Britain finished fourth, clocking 44.48 seconds. Ammar Ismail Yahia Ibrahim from Qatar took the fifth spot with a time of 44.64 seconds, setting a personal best.

Senegal's Cheikh Tidiane Diouf set a new national record with his time of 44.94 seconds, placing him sixth. In seventh place, Norway's Håvard Bentdal Ingvaldsen completed the race in 45.60 seconds, followed by Alexander Doom from Belgium, who rounded out the field with a time of 1:55.10.

In the second heat, the 2012 Olympic champion Kirani James of Grenada showcased his brilliance, securing his spot in the men’s 400m final at the Paris Olympics.

James topped the leaderboard with a time of 43.78 seconds and joining him in the final is Muzala Samukonga from Zambia, who achieved a national record with his time of 43.81 seconds, finishing second.

Christopher Bailey from the USA claimed third place, setting a personal best with a time of 44.31 seconds. Bayapo Ndori of Botswana finished in fourth place with a time of 44.43 seconds.

Aruna Dharshana Singhapurage from Sri Lanka also set a personal best, placing fifth with a time of 44.75 seconds.

Italy's Luca Sito came in sixth, clocking 45.01 seconds, while Elián Larregina from Argentina finished seventh with a time of 45.02 seconds.

Lylthe Pillay from South Africa completed the race in eighth place, recording a time of 45.24 seconds.

In the third heat, Britain’s European record-holder Matthew Hudson-Smith showcased his formidable speed, qualifying for the final with a winning time of 44.07 seconds.

Joining him in the final is Michael Norman of the USA, who finished closely behind with a time of 44.26 seconds.

Samuel Ogazi from Nigeria came in third, achieving a personal best with a time of 44.41 seconds.

Jamaica’s Jevaughn Powell secured fourth place, clocking 44.91 seconds, while Reece Holder from Australia finished fifth with a time of 44.94 seconds.

Zakithi Nene of South Africa ended in sixth place with a time of 45.07 seconds, followed by Leungo Scotch from Botswana, who clocked 45.16 seconds.

Christopher Morales-Williams of Canada completed the lineup, finishing eighth with a time of 45.25 seconds.