London 2012 Track and Field Men's 400M Result: Kirani James in 43.94 Seconds
Kirani James has stormed to victory in the men's 400M track and field event at the London 2012 Olympic Games. James from Grenada won a fiercely tight 400 meter final in a sizzling 43.94 seconds.
James will be delighted with his run. The 19 year old has a long career ahead of him and he has exceeded the early expectations on him by beating a quality field of athletes to take the gold medal.
World junior champion Luguelin Santos from the Dominican Republic took silver in 44.46 seconds. He will be disappointed having run so well to have missed out on the gold but he can still be proud of taking the silver as he was pushed all the way.
Lalonda Gordon from Trinidad and Tobago was third in 44.52 seconds. Just 0.06 seconds behind getting a silver medal, Gordon will be disappointed not to have managed to pip Santos at the line, but will undoubtedly be delighted to make the rostrum in a fantastic line up in the 400 meter final.
Australian teenager Steve Solomon was unable to live up to expectations for the Olympic men's 400m final. He had become the first Australian man in 24 years to reach the Olympic 400m title race by storming to personal bests of 45.18 and 44.97 seconds in his heat and semi-final. It would have taken Solomon to go a full half second faster to impose himself on the medals but he was unable to go faster again in the final.
However, he should not be disappointed and he still managed to clock his second fastest ever time of 45.14 seconds. The expectations surrounding him were raised simply due to his phenomenal performance coming into the final, and overall he will be delighted with his achievements in London and be looking towards Rio in 2016 to take a medal.
Back in the Grenada there will be dancing in the streets and drinking in the bars as the young home favorite brings them a taste of gold.
