400m II Semi-finals US Olimpic Trials 1996 ( A.Harrison,Johnson, Watts,Smith , Reynolds,Maybank )

Semi-finals - first 4 qualify, June 17, 18.35/18.41 Hr
1/ 1. A.Harrison 44.43, 2. Johnson 44.81, 3. Watts 45.10, 4. Maybank 45.18, 5. Antonio Pettigrew (Reeb) 45.19, 6. Andrew Valmon
(Reeb) 45.84, 7. Obea Moore (CaHS) 46.01, 8. Leonard Byrd (UTSA) 46.15
2/ 1. Smith 44.51, 2. Reynolds 44.58, 3. Mills 44.65, 4. Rouser 44.77, 5. Calvin Harrison (Nike) 44.78, 6. Deon Minor (Nike) 45.32,
7. Jerome Young (Wallace JC) 45.57, 8. Tony Miller (Nike) 46.84
The first round saw PRs for big Anthuan Maybank (44.77), and the boyish looking Calvin (44.70) and Alvin (44.93) Harrison twins.
Michael Johnson ran a relaxed 44.80 behind Maybank and ahead of LaMont Smith (44.94). The other heats were won more
conservatively by veterans Pettigrew (45.32) and Reynolds (45.46). Only heat 2 of the quarters saw 45 seconds broken, with the
Harrisons again running well, and Quincy Watts, '92 champion, showing good form at the right time. Things hotted up in the semis,
with Watts leading the first race to halfway, and Johnson then taking control. He relinquished the lead to Alvin Harrison with 50m to
go. A fading Watts just held off Maybank and Pettigrew. In the other race Minor was the early leader, but Smith and Mills pushed the
third 100 and led into the straight. Smith held form best and edged away from Mills, who was overtaken just before the finish by
Reynolds. Tall (6'6") Jason Rouser just held off unlucky Calvin Harrison, whose 44.78 was 6th fastest of the day.
The anticipation of the final centered on how much Johnson had been holding back. A lot was the answer. Quincy Watts got
out quickest, and led by a meter at halfway, but Johnson maintained his speed with his quick striding upright stance as the others
decelerated - his second 100 took 10.25, while his third was only slightly slower - 10.37. By the 300m mark he was 4 meters clear, and he
maintained that margin all the way to the tape, to clock the third fastest time ever (43.44) ahead of WR holder Reynolds, who ran his
second best time (43.91). Alvin Harrison was a clear third, having run his middle 200m section in 20.80. LaMont Smith ran 44.30 to edge
Anthuan Maybank, who ran 44.39 but was subsequently disqualified for running out of his lane. Maybank was nevertheless picked for
the Olympic relay squad, and responded with a fine anchor leg on the winning US team in Atlanta. Jason Rouser equalled his PR in 6th
with 44.77 behind Derek Mills. Both they, plus Harrison and Smith ended up with relay gold medals as Reynolds was unable to run in
the Games due to injury and Johnson pulled out of the relay after he injured himself at the end of his 19.32. Johnson was a little
annoyed that he hadn't broken the 400 WR - "It's nobody's fault but mine...my coach instructed me to go out hard, and I didn't do it

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