This man seems to have been forgotten as his day was sandwiched between those of Butch Reynolds and Michael Johnson, but man what a pleasure to watch him run a quarter, textbook form and beyond:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_cc5Ihkzmc - 1992 OLY 400m SEMI-FINAL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rIbDHQYWOs&feature=related - 1992 OLY 400m FINAL
Both races feature Ian Morris, setting T&T's record in the semis.
Now if only we could get Rene to run like that, the form correction alone will drop him into the high 43s on his 2009 conditioning.
That dude was the s***. He took that 400m like a 200m race. That was impressive. KJ has similar technique. What do you think?
Yes KJ attacks the race but a few differences:
1. KJ leans forward a bit too much in first half of the race, seemingly pressing for the most of the first 200
2. As a result he tends to slow a bit on the bend as he collects himself for the last 100
3. Then he runs a strong last 100 but it is more off of strength than on momentum off the curve
Those who have run 44-low and sub-44 tend to attack both bends instead of focusing on sprinting the straightaways. Wariner, Johnson, and even Angelo Taylor (when he ran 44.0x) accelerate going into the last curve, trusting their momentum, conditioning, and efficient form to bring them home. The trick to attacking that last curve is using the momentum from the first 100 to relax on the back straight yet maintain leg turnover without killing it, leaving space to change gears.
But the greatest fear/risk for all quarter milers is attacking the last bend and HOPING to have gas to come home without rigging, but doing so correctly gives you an advantage over the opposition mentally and distance-wise in that last 100. It is efficient form, relaxation off of momentum, and strength that brings you home.
Wariner looks like an efficient machine coming home, Reynolds grinded his way home, Johnson just had that killer strength in addition to his momentum. Quincy in my mind though was the smoothest of them all. Had he the strength of Johnson or Reynolds, he might be the WR holder today, but 4th best all-time ain't bad.
