Gonzales: Don’t be afraid of the 400m

Jermaine Gonzales, the 2011 World Championship 400 metres finalist, has urged today’s one-lap exponents not to be afraid of the event. Speaking after Jevaughn Powell swept to victory at last month’s National Championships, Gonzales also expressed the hope that today’s 400 metre runners will go fast enough to compete with the best in the world.

Gonzales watched as Powell overcame rainy conditions at the Nationals to win in 45.50 seconds after a semi-final circuit timed in 45.38. “I must say I was a bit disappointed with the time, but the condition was poor, so, you know, it’s expected, but I saw the guys fighting, and I just need them to step up and start running faster because that won’t compete with the rest of the world,” said the man who set a Jamaican record of 44.40 seconds in 2010.

Powell is the only Jamaican to break 45 this season with a personal best of 44.87 seconds in May.

The mixed 4x400 metres relay wasn’t around during Gonzales’ career, and he welcomes the increased opportunities for today’s 400 metres runners.

“That’s the good thing. Now we get to compete in more events when you’re running the 400m, so that might give us a little cushion, but you know, I still need to see the 400m stepping up, people running 44 lows and trying to go 43s to compete with the rest of the world because that’s what it’s all about at the end of the day,” he emphasised.

He had a word of advice and a note on Ackeem Bloomfield. “I think our quarter-milers are afraid of the distance. If you see people like Bloomfield, who has a lot of speed, you know, he tries to run the shorter sprints over running the 400m. I think as soon as they recognise their event and start to work towards it, and think about what they need to do, you know, I think we’ll see better running from the 400m runners,” Gonzales said.

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Bloomfield ran the 200m at the 2019 National Championships but ended up in the 400m at the World Championships and reached the final. The former Kingston College captain has personal bests of 19.81 seconds in the 200m and 43.94 seconds – number 2 on the all-time Jamaica performance list – in the 400 metres. However, on the strength of his Jamaica leading time of 20.22 seconds, Bloomfield will contest the 200ms in Eugene, Oregon, at the World Championships.

Ironically, his 400m best was set in Eugene four years ago.

“Just don’t be afraid,” said Gonzales, who clocked seven sub-45 runs in 2010 to earn the number two position in the 400m world rankings published by the respected US publication Track and Field News.

“Put in the work because you have to do the work on the track, on the training track, before you get here,” urged the 2006 Commonwealth Games third-place finisher.