Talking to Kirani James last night he reiterated it was important to win your semi heat because you got a better lane for the final.
He also said it was advantageous to be on an inside lane of your competitors.
He won his semi yesterday with the fastest time but is in lane 6.
The other heat winnners are in lanes 3 and 4, and LaShawn Merrit who got beat by James is in lane 5 which to me seems better than lane 6.
Can someone explain this?
Lanes for final
ORDER / LANE BIB ATHLETE COUNTRY SB 2016 PB
1 2125 Karabo SIBANDA BOT BOT 44.47 44.47
2 2171 Ali Khamis KHAMIS BRN BRN 44.49 44.49
3 2977 Machel CEDENIO TTO TTO 44.34 44.34
4 2540 Bralon TAPLIN GRN GRN 44.38 44.38
5 3090 LaShawn MERRITT USA USA 43.97 43.65
6 2539 Kirani JAMES GRN GRN 44.02 43.74
7 2461 Matthew HUDSON-SMITH GBR GBR 44.48 44.48
8 2910 Wayde VAN NIEKERK RSA RSA 44.11 43.48