Isaac Makwala looked great running 44.55. The question is will that tire him out? Everyone it talking about Van Niekerk trying the double but Makwala is trying it as well.
Makwala afterwards said he believed he could beat the Van Niekerk and then laid down the gauntlet to the US.
"We want to take the 400 to Africa, to make it (an) African race. It was an American race, we want to take it to Africa," he said.
As for the final he noted, "The final is going to be crazy. It's going to be hard because we are doubling." He pointed out the day between the 400 semi and 400 final is round 1 of the 200 so he and Van Niekerk won't be fresh for the 400 final. (Van Nieker only had to run 45.27 to win his heat today so he saved energy compared to Makwala)
https://youtu.be/2V_iKsPifFE
Former Olympic champ Lashawn Merritt was in Makwala's heat and got 2nd. Merritt hasn't raced since USAs and said, "I haven't been having the best of seasons. I've been dealing with a little bit here and there" but he added, "I'm a quarter miler, I'm going to line up and go at it."
When asked what his injury was he laughed and eventually said, "father time."
Talking about today's race Merrit said, "I didn't really push it , push it at the end, neither did the guy who won."
https://youtu.be/CDvm3xJhm9I
Top 8 Qualifiers:
1 1 5 708 Isaac MAKWALA BOT 44.55 Q
2 1 4 667 Steven GARDINER BAH 44.75 Q
3 1 3 712 Baboloki THEBE BOT44.82 Q
4 1 6 1071 Nathon ALLEN JAM 44.91 Q
5 1 1 1413 Fred KERLEY USA 44.92 Q .912
6 2 6 1431 Gil ROBERTS USA 44.92 Q .917
7 2 3 1084 Demish GAYE JAM 44.98 Q
8 2 5 1426 LaShawn MERRITT USA 45.00 Q
Baylor Frosh Wil London made the semis running 45.10.
https://youtu.be/GpdMUR7r1wg