2021 USATF Masters National Championships - Day one from Ames, IA. For me, the 400m prelims. It was a good day. It reminded me very much of my prelim in Malaga in 2018.
57.19
Not only is this a season's best and a new world leading time, it's the fastest 400m I've run since that prelim race in Malaga in Sept, 2018 when I ran 57.00. It was 2.61 seconds faster than the next fastest qualifier ... which is a lot. And... I did it from lane 1, the worst lane. And best of all, it felt easy. No rigging.
I have no idea why I got lane one. All 400m runners hate lane one because it's the lane with the longest turns. The only real competitor in my heat, Brian H., scratched. There was a guy who ran 61. The first heat was the fastest, McDuffrie winning in 59.80.
I went out into a headwind on the back stretch at a pedestrian 27.3 for the first 200m.... but I finished in a relaxed 29.9 for the last 200m. It was closest to even splits as I've run in a meet. My 300m split was about 42.0 which means my last 100m, was about 15.2. Seems like I've finally figured out this race. Not going to do much different tomorrow, and from a better lane, I hope to improve. I'll have lane 4, and Mr. 'fake seed time' McDuffrie will be in 5, exactly where I want him.
I was a little apprehensive before this race. Had a sore foot after Tuesdays workout. But now, all that is gone ... no aches or pains. Not nervous. Actually, confident and having a blast. Tomorrow, the 400m final and the 100m prelim. I have about 3 hrs in between.
Great start to the championships, good luck in the next rounds. You`ve worked hard enough.
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