Historic sub-45 run for Cedenio

When Machel Cedenio crossed the line first in the 400 metres at last Saturday's Racers Grand Prix, the scoreboard clock revealed that he had set a National Stadium record 44.38 seconds.

In addition, the tall Trinidad and Tobago star took three others under 45. Together, this quick quartet, which included Javon Francis of Jamaica, had matched another benchmark.

Until Cedenio's trademark fast finish overtook Bralon Taplin of Grenada, Francis and fellow Trinidad and Tobago star Lalonde Gordon, the best time inside the Stadium had been 44.49 seconds by Roxbert Martin at the 1997 National Championships.

With Taplin at 44.76, Francis at 44.81 and Olympic and Commonwealth bronze medallist Gordon at 44.84, the race had four men under 45 seconds for the second time on Jamaican soil.

When Lansford Spence won the 2005 National Championships in 44.77 seconds, Brandon Simpson, Michael Blackwood and Sanjay Ayre all joined him in beating the 45-second mark.

Fittingly, the first sub-45 clocking on Jamaican soil came from one of Cedenio's greatest predecessors.

Wendell Mottley of Trinidad and Tobago won the 1966 Commonwealth Games 440-yard dash in 45.08 seconds. When the time is converted from imperial to metre measurement, Mottley's run clocks in at 44.82 seconds.