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400 Meters: Can you Drop from 45 to 43 in One Year?

You are here: Home / 400 meters / 400 Meters: Can you Drop from 45 to 43 in One Year?
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March 19, 2008 by Jimson Lee 3 Comments

Last Updated on April 19, 2013 by Jimson Lee

In the 400 meters, can you drop your personal best from 45 seconds down to 43 seconds in one year?

The answer is yes.

In 1967, Lee Evans ran a 44.9 hand time (equivalent to a 45.04 FAT) behind Tommie Smith’s 400 meter World Record of 44.5, then ran 43.86 in Mexico City in 1968.

In 1987, Steve Lewis ran 45.76 at the USA National Junior Championships, followed by his 43.87 Gold medal victory over Butch Reynolds at the Seoul Olympics.

So it is possible to drop your PB from 45 point down to the 43 point territory? It’s rare, but it can be done.

Every 20 years we go through a cycle of great American Quarter Milers. 1968, 1988, 2008… hmmm, do I see a pattern here?

And yesterday, Jay Hicks wrote about Bryshon Nellum: Track & Field’s “Next One”

So it’s fair to say we may see the same with Bryshon this summer, as long as he doesn’t burn himself out and run too many races.

Bring on the Olympic Trials, where several American Quarter Milers will be staying home, but good enough to make the National team in any other country!

See also  4 Tips to Running a Faster 40 Yard Dash

Category icon400 meters,  Olympic History,  Track & Field Tag iconBryshon Nellum,  Butch Reynolds,  Lee Evans,  Mile,  Olympics,  speed

About Jimson Lee

I am a Masters Athlete and Coach currently based in London UK. My other projects include the Bud Winter Foundation, writer for the IAAF New Studies in Athletics Journal (NSA) and a member of the Track & Field Writers of America.

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Comments

  1. W.E. Price says

    March 19, 2008 at 8:06 am

    I would also have to include 2004 as a standout year for US quartermilers. Similar to ’68 and ’88, it was a clean sweep in Athens. Though not as fast as the prior two, the quality of performance was undeniable. In addition, one could even argue that relative depth that year was as good as ’68 – that being demonstrated from both races (heat and finals) of the 4×4, as well as Oly trials.

    Reply
  2. Jimson Lee says

    March 19, 2008 at 7:54 pm

    The amazing thing about 2004 was th\e number of College “kids” who made the team, and the amount of races (indoors & outdoors NCAA, then trials, then Olympics) sure made a LONG season for those guys.

    Reply

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