World Champs Men’s 400 — Kebinatshipi From Off Formchart To No. 10 AT

Collen Kebinatshipi, with no wins on the DL circuit in ’24 or ’25 picked a fine time to score a “W.” (KIRBY LEE/IMAGE OF SPORT)

THE ENTIRE OLYMPIC PODIUM was absent from men’s 400 final in Tokyo, as were the medalists from the last two Worlds. That opened the door for a new champion, and 21-year-old Collen Kebinatshipi blitzed through it with a dominating performance on a rainy evening, continuing Botswana’s rise in the sport.

In the opening round, U.S. champion Jacory Patterson, among the pre-meet favorites, scorched a 43.90, the fastest heat in history. Defending champion Antonio Watson of Jamaica finished last in his section in 46.23.

Two days later, South Africa’s Zakithi Nene — the world leader at 43.76 from back on May 31 — took the first semifinal in a relaxed 44.20 over Botswana’s Lee Eppie (44.51). World indoor champ Christopher Bailey (45.05) of the U.S. was eliminated in 7th.

In the second semi, Kebinatshipi blasted to a world-leading 43.61 NR, the fastest ever in a non-final and moving him to No. 10 on the all-time list. Jamaica’s Rusheen McDonald (44.04) took 2nd, forcing Trinidad’s Jereem Richards (44.12) and Patterson (44.19) to sweat it out before earning time qualifiers to the final.

The third heat saw another Motswana, Bayapo Nduri, take the win, clocking 44.21 over Japan’s Yuki Joseph Nakajima (44.53). Not advancing were the Olympic bronze medalist Muzala Samukonga (44.60) of Zambia plus Americans Khaleb McRae (44.82) and Vernon Norwood (44.83). Great Britain’s Hudson-Smith (44.95), the silver medalist in Paris, also bowed out. (Olympic champ Quincy Hall, injured for much of this season, didn’t contest the USATF Championships.)

Another two days later, with rain falling on the final, Kebinatshipi, in lane 5, and Nene, in lane 7, went out hard. Kebinatshipi had the lead at 200 (20.56), while Patterson (20.60) had moved into 2nd, ahead of Nene (20.69) and Richards (20.71).

At 300, Kebinatshipi (31.33) continued to pad his lead over Nene (31.59), McDonald (31.65) and Richards (31.67). Patterson had fallen back to 5th.

Down the homestretch, Kebinatshipi held his form and ran strong through the line in 43.53, another world lead that solidified his hold on the No. 10 all-time spot.

“Up until the semifinal I have been doubting myself. I had my struggles,” admitted Kebinatshipi, a semifinalist in Paris whose best Diamond League finish this year was 3rd in a trio of spring meets. “But in the final, I had no fear. I wanted to go all out and see where I could go.”

Richards (43.72 NR) came on strong in the final 50 meters to close the gap and take silver. “Lane 2 didn’t affect my race at all,” said the 31-year-old Richards, who was 4th in Paris. “Many athletes might get derailed by an inside lane, but that was the hand I was dealt and I had to make the best of it.”

Ndori (44.20) also closed well, passing McDonald (44.28) and Nene (44.55) for the bronze. Patterson (44.70) faded to 7th.

“My target was to finish on the podium, with any medal, so I’m so happy,” said Ndori, who, along with Kebinatshipi, ran on the Olympic silver-medal 4 x 400 team last year. “I think tomorrow will be a holiday back home in Botswana.”

MEN’S 400 RESULTS

FINAL (September 18)

1. Collen Kebinatshipi (Bot) 43.53 NR (WL) (10, x W)

(10.57, 9.99 [20.56], 10.77 [31.33], 12.20) (20.56/22.97);

2. Jereem Richards (Tri) 43.72 NR

(10.66, 10.05 [20.71], 10.96 [31.67], 12.05) (20.71/23.71);

3. Bayapo Ndori (Bot) 44.20

(10.84, 10.21 [21.05], 10.86 [31.91], 12.29) (21.05/23.15);

4. Rusheen McDonald (Jam) 44.28

(10.90, 9.91 [20.81], 10.84 [31.65], 12.63) (20.81/23.47);

5. Zakithi Nene (SA) 44.55

(10.57, 10.12 [20.69], 10.90 [31.59], 12.96) (20.69/23.86);

6. Yuki Joseph Nakajima (Jpn) 44.62

(11.19, 10.49 [21.68], 10.99 [32.67], 11.95) (21.68/22.94);

7. Jacory Patterson (US) 44.70

(10.64, 9.96 [20.60], 11.14 [31.74], 12.96) (20.60/24.10);

8. Lee Eppie (Bot) 44.77

(10.77, 10.29 [21.06], 11.08 [32.14], 12.63) (21.06/23.71).

(lanes: 2. Richards; 3. Patterson; 4. Eppie; 5. Kebinatshipi; 6. McDonald; 7. Nene; 8. Ndori; 9. Nakajima)

(reaction times: 0.134 Kebinatshipi, 0.139 Nene, 0.141 Patterson, 0.144 Ndori, 0.145 Richards, 0.151 Eppie, 0.201 McDonald & Nakajima)

HEATS (September 14)

I–1. Richards 44.64; 2. Lythe Pillay (SA) 44.73; 3. Charlie Dobson (GB) 44.85; 4. Daniel Segers (Bel) 45.04; 5. Fuga Sato (Jpn) 45.10; 6. Brian Tinega (Ken) 45.13; 7. Oleksandr Pohorilko (Ukr) 45.44; 8. Maks Szwed (Pol) 45.67.

II–1. Ndori 44.36; 2. Nakajima 44.44 NR; 3. Bovel McPherson (Jam) 44.51 PR; 4. Matthew Hudson-Smith (GB) 44.68; 5. Elián Larregina (Arg) 44.97; 6. Alexander Doom (Bel) 45.10; 7. Cooper Sherman (Aus) 45.53; 8. Chidi Okezie (Ngr) 45.66.

III–1. Patterson 43.90; 2. McDonald 44.38; 3. Edoardo Scotti (Ita) 44.45 NR; 4. Kebinatshipi 44.48; 5. Samuel Ogazi (Ngr) 45.97; 6. Jean Paul Bredau (Ger) 46.05; 7. Jonas Phijffers (Neth) 46.26; 8. Umar Osman (Mas) 46.43.

IV–1. Chris Bailey (US) 44.49; 2. Reece Holder (Aus) 44.54; 3. Muzala Samukonga (Zam) 44.56; 4. Samuel Reardon (GB) 44.70; 5. Patrik Enyingi (Hun) 45.25; 6. Kevin Kipkorir (Ken) 45.39; 7. Lionel Spitz (Swi) 45.57; 8. Eugene Omalla (Neth) 45.97.

V–1. Nene 44.34; 2. Vernon Norwood (US) 44.55; 3. Attila Molnár (Hun) 44.55 NR; 4. Ammar Ismail Yahya Ibrahim (Qat) 44.63 PR; 5. Rok Ferlan (Slo) 44.91; 6. Mihai Sorin Dringo (Rom) 45.21; 7. Luca Sito (Ita) 46.22; 8. Antonio Watson (Jam) 46.23.

VI–1. Khaleb McRae (US) 44.25; 2. Eppie 44.44; 3. Kirani James (Grn) 44.66; 4. Delano Kenedy (Jam) 44.74 PR; 5. George Mutuku (Ken) 45.07; 6. Christopher Morales Williams (Can) 45.26; 7. Alexander Ogando (DR) 45.59; 8. Isaya Klein Ikkink (Neth) 46.32.

SEMIS (September 16)

I–1. Nene 44.20; 2. Eppie 44.51; 3. Holder 44.63; 4. Ibrahim 44.74; 5. Molnár 44.94; 6. McPherson 44.99; 7. Bailey 45.05; 8. Reardon 45.10.

II–1. Kebinatshipi 43.61 NR; 2. McDonald 44.04; 3. Richards 44.12; 4. Patterson 44.19; 5. Scotti 44.77; 6. Pillay 44.82; 7. Dobson 44.85; 8. Ferlan 45.71.

III–1. Ndori 44.21; 2. Nakajima 44.53; 3. Samukonga 44.60; 4. McRae 44.82; 5. Norwood 44.83; 6. Hudson-Smith 44.95; 7. James 44.97; 7. Kenedy 44.97.

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