Defending champion Wayde van Niekerk admitted he had nerves after he ran a less-than-perfect race in the 400m heats at the Tokyo Games on Sunday.
Van Niekerk didn’t try to dice the two men who finished in front of him, Anthony Jose Zambrano of Colombia, the 2019 world championship silver medallist who took the heat in 44.87, and Australian Steven Solomon, second in 44.94.
Then again, Van Niekerk didn’t have to take them on, although he had to keep an eye on nearby Leungo Scotch of Botswana, fourth in 45.32 to advance as the quickest of the six fastest losers. “I was aiming for top two but obviously that didn’t happen, but I’m still in the Games and I’m still in the running for a medal and that’s what’s important,” said Van Niekerk, who should have more in the tank, considering he’s been faster in his two previous races this year, clocking 44.56 and 44.87 in June.Five competitors in the heats went under 45 seconds, including pace-setting American Michael Cherry and Botswana’s Isaac Makwala .
World champion Steven Gardiner of the Bahamas won his heat in 45.05 and veteran Kirani James of Grenada, the London 2012 champion, clocked 45.09.
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