Banda and Nyongani met with contrasting fortunes (14-08-07)

for the World Championships in Osaka, Japan, later this month.

First on the track was Banda, who was placed in the main men’s 400m A race where he lined up against World and Olympic champion Jeremy Wariner of the United States. Also in the same race were Wariner’s fellow Americans Kerron Clement and Darold Williamson, and Banda found the trio too hot to handle as they relegated him into seventh and last place in 45,67 seconds.

Wariner won the event in 43,50s, which was the third fastest time in history over 400m.His time was also the sixth-best ever time over 400m at the Stockholm Super Grand Prix. The 23-year-old American is aiming to better fellow American Michael Johnson’s world record of 43,18s set in the 1999 worlds in Seville.

According to reports from Stockholm, Wariner looked comfortable throughout the one-lap race on a fast track in warm conditions and produced a trademark strong finish to kill off his rivals.
The time was a second stadium record in a row for Wariner, who was awarded a one-carat diamond for his feat. Last year he clocked 44,02 seconds.

Only Johnson and Butch Reynolds, both world record holders, have run faster, while another American Quincey Watts has also timed 43,50s when winning a gold medal at the Barcelona Olympic Games in 1992.
Wariner was followed to the line by Clement in a new personal best of 44,48s and Williamson (44,90s) while Banda, who was running in lane one, was the last man home in the seven-man race.
Although Banda came seventh in 45,67s, his time was faster than that of fellow Zimbabwean Nyongani who featured in the men’s 400m B race where he came second behind Alleyne Jeremy Francique of Grenada in 45,98s.
Jeremy Francique won the B race in 45,36s while Paul Mckee of Northern Ireland came third in 46,31s.