Christopher Taylor 400m Age Group World Record [Video]

Last Updated on October 7, 2018

When Christopher Taylor ran the 400m in 48.72 last year at age 14, nobody really noticed because superstar Kirani James holds those records at age 14 and 15 with a 46.96 & 45.70 respectively.

But this year (at age 15) when ran 45.69 easing down the last 20m, the whole world took notice.

Christopher Taylor of Jamaica now joins the impressive list of 400 meter Olympic medallists including Luguelín Santos and 1988 OG winner Steve Lewis.

You can see the list of all Age Group World records here at http://age-records.125mb.com or the European records here at http://statistics.homepage.t-online.de/a.htm (Thanks Ian Graham for pointing them out to me)

Age	Time	Athlete	Country	YOB	Location	Date
6	70.20	Torrie Cox	USA	2003	Orlando FL	2010
7	65.00	Torrie Cox	USA	2003	Orlando FL	2011
8	63.44	Tyler Mapson	USA	2003	New Orleans LA	2011
9	59.40	Tyler Mapson	USA	2003	Atlanta GA	2012
10	56.83	Kenneth Gilstrap	USA	1991	Omaha NE	2002
11	52.16	Bryce Love	USA	1997	Greensboro NC	2009
12	49.47	Bryce Love	USA	1997	Greensboro NC	2010
13	48.62	Bryce Love	USA	1997	Durham NC	2011
14	46.96	Kirani James	GRN	1992	Ostrava	2007
15	45.70	Kirani James	GRN	1992	Bydgoszcz	2008
16	45.14	Obea Moore	USA	1979	Santiago de Chile	1995
17	44.71A	Luguelín Santos	DOM	1993	Guadalajara	2011
18	44.45	Luguelín Santos	DOM	1993	Hengelo	2012
19	43.87	Steve Lewis	USA	1969	Seoul	1988

Race Execution

Christopher Taylor does all the right things… runs a great 80m curve to start the race, then “floats” down the backstretch, conserving his arms like Roddie Haley back in my days. He puts a stronger effort on the 3rd 400m, where the race is usually won or lost. Finally, he digs deep over the last 100m, but he eases up at the last 20 meters. Grrr!

READ Strength and Power for Maximum Speed

In my mind, he runs a textbook 400 meters with the push-pace-position-pray formula of 400 meter racing. Read Michael Johnson’s racing strategy in the 400 meters.

He should be like Lee Evans, where over those last 3 steps, it’s push-push-push-DIP for the line! Races are won and lost by inches. Or less. Sometimes 2 way ties. (If you haven’t read Lee Evan’s article from 1984, read Planning Training and Racing for Quality 400 Meters. A MUST READ!

Also note the mechanics of his stride mechanics which differs from the first 300m, to the last 100m, something GB’s Iwan Thomas pointed out in his 2008 podcast.

Take a look at the video below and watch the arm action and stride differences on the 2 straightaways. Read Ground Contact Time, Stride Length and Fatigue in the 400m and you will know why.

And yes, he’s only 15 years old!

Does he want to move to London?

Video of Christopher Taylor’s 400m Age Group WR

Here are the two races on YouTube:

and this..

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Jimson Lee

Coach & Founder at SpeedEndurance.com

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.