400 metres

400 m is a common track running event. It is the longest common sprint distance. On a standard outdoor running track, it is exactly once around the track in the inside lane. It is usually run in lanes all the way round. A successful runner will need an efficient stride and superior speed, and a small amount of non-fast twitch muscles to be competitive. For career 400 m runners this becomes a prolonged high speed sprint.

The current men's world record is held by Michael Johnson, with a time of 43.18 seconds. The world indoor record holder is Kerron Clement, in 44.57 seconds. The reigning Olympic champions are Jeremy Wariner and Tonique Williams-Darling.

Famous 400 m runners

Men

* Roger Black
* Lee Evans
* Michael Johnson
* Alberto Juantorena
* Eric Liddell
* Archie Williams
* Milkha Singh

Top Ten All-time athletes - 400 meters - men

(Updated 14 July 2006.)

Rank	Res.	Athlete	Date	Place
1.	43.18	Michael Johnson	August 26 1999	Sevilla
2.	43.29	Harry (Butch) Reynolds	August 17 1988	Zürich
3.	43.50	Quincy Watts	August 5 1992	Barcelona
4.	43.62	Jeremy Wariner	July 14 2006	Rome
5.	43.81	Danny Everett	June 26 1992	New Orleans
6.	43.86	Lee Evans	October 18 1968	Mexico City
7.	43.87	Steve Lewis	September 28 1988	Seoul
8.	43.97	Larry James	October 18 1968	Mexico City
9.	44.09	Alvin Harrison	June 19 1996	Atlanta
10.	44.09	Jerome Young	June 21 1998	New Orleans

Women

* Ana Guevara
* Cathy Freeman
* Marita Koch
* Marie-José Perec
* Irena Szewinska

Top Ten All-time athletes - 400 meters - women

(Updated 18 May 2006.)

Rank	Res.	Athlete	Date	Place
1.	47.60	Marita Koch	06.10.1985	Canberra
2.	47.99	Jarmila Kratochvílová	10.08.1983	Helsinki
3.	48.25	Marie-José Pérec	29.07.1996	Atlanta
4.	48.27	Olga Vladykina-Bryzgina	06.10.1985	Canberra
5.	48.59	Tatiana Kocembová	10.08.1983	Helsinki
6.	48.63	Cathy Freeman	29.07.1996	Atlanta
7.	48.83	Valerie Brisco-Hooks	06.08.1984	Los Angeles
8.	48.89	Ana Guevara	27.08.2003	Paris Saint-Denis
9.	48.92	Sanya Richards	19.08.2005	Zürich
10.	49.05	Chandra Cheeseborough	06.08.1984	Los Angeles

External links

* All-time men's best 400 m
* All-time women's best 400m

400 metres: Encyclopedia BETA