1983 World Championships in Athletics - Men's 4 x 400 metres relay
Encyclopedia
The 4 x 400 metres relay
at the 1983 World Championships in Athletics
was held at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium
on August 13 and August 14.
} DNS
} DNS
} (John Goville
, Mike Okot
, Charles Mbazira, Moses Kyeswa
) DQ
} (Ryszard Wichrowski, Ryszard Szparak, Andrzej Stępień, Ryszard Podlas) DNF
4 x 400 metres relay
The 4 x 400 meters relay or long relay is an athletics track event in which teams comprise four runners who each complete 400 meters or one lap. It is traditionally the final event of a track meet. At top class events, the first 500 meters is run in lanes...
at the 1983 World Championships in Athletics
1983 World Championships in Athletics
The inaugural World Championships in Athletics were run under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations and were held at the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki, Finland between August 7 and August 14, 1983....
was held at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium
Helsinki Olympic Stadium
The Helsinki Olympic Stadium , located in the Töölö district about from the center of the Finnish capital Helsinki, is the largest stadium in the country, nowadays mainly used for hosting sports events and big concerts. The stadium is best known for being the center of activities in the 1952...
on August 13 and August 14.
Medals
| Gold: | Silver: | Bronze: |
 Soviet UnionSergey Lovachov Sergey Lovachov Sergey Lovachov is a retired track and field sprinter from Uzbekistan, known for winning the gold medal for the Soviet Union in the men's 4x400 metres relay at the inaugural 1983 World Championships. He did so alongside Aleksandr Troshchilo, Nikolay Chernetskiy, and Viktor Markin, clocking a total... Aleksandr Troshchilo Aleksandr Troshchilo Aleksandr Troshchilo is a retired track and field sprinter from the Soviet Union, known for winning the bronze medal in the men's 4x400 metres relay at the 1982 European Championships... Nikolay Chernetskiy Nikolay Chernetskiy Nikolay Chernetskiy is a retired track and field sprinter from the Soviet Union, known for winning the gold medal in the men's 4x400 metres relay at the inaugural 1983 World Championships. He did so alongside Aleksandr Troshchilo, Sergey Lovachov, and Viktor Markin, clocking a total time of 3:00.79... Viktor Markin Viktor Markin Viktor Fyodorovich Markin is a former Soviet athlete, winner of two gold medals at the 1980 Summer Olympics.... |
 West GermanyErwin Skamrahl Erwin Skamrahl Erwin Skamrahl is a retired West German sprinter who specialized in the 200 and 400 metres.At the 1982 European Championships he finished fourth in the 200 metres, won a bronze medal in the 4 x 100 metres relay and a gold medal in the 4 x 400 metres relay... Jörg Vaihinger Jörg Vaihinger Jörg Vaihinger was a West German athlete who competed mainly in the 400 metres.He competed for West Germany in the 1988 Summer Olympics held in Seoul, South Korea in the 4 x 400 metre relay where he won the bronze medal with his team mates Norbert Dobeleit, Edgar Itt and Ralf Lübke.-References:... Harald Schmid Harald Schmid Harald Schmid is a former German track-and-field athlete.Schmid was one of the best 400 m hurdles runners in the world. His duels with Edwin Moses during the late 1970s and early 1980s are unforgettable. His race against Moses in Rome, 1987, is ranked as one of the races of the century... Hartmut Weber Hartmut Weber Hartmut Weber is a retired West German sprinter who specialized in the 400 metres.At the 1982 European Championships he won the gold medal with a lifetime best of 44.72 seconds. He also helped win the 4 x 400 metres relay with teammates Erwin Skamrahl, Harald Schmid and Thomas Giessing... |
 United KingdomAinsley Bennett Ainsley Bennett Ainsley Bennett is a British former Olympic and World Championship sprinter from Birmingham, UK.-Early life:Brought up in Birmingham, West Midlands, in the UK, Bennett attended Naseby Secondary Modern School , in the area known as Alum Rock, Birmingham... Garry Cook Garry Cook Garry Cook is a former British athlete, who competed mainly in the 800 metres with a best time of 1:44.55.He competed for Great Britain in the 1984 Summer Olympics held in Los Angeles, United States in the 4 x 400 metre relay where he won the Silver medal with his team mates Kriss Akabusi, Todd... Todd Bennett Todd Bennett Todd Anthony Bennett was a British athlete who competed mainly in the 400 metres.He competed for Great Britain in the 1984 Summer Olympics held in Los Angeles, United States in the 4 x 400 metre relay where he won the Silver medal with his team mates Kriss Akabusi, Garry Cook and Philip... Philip Brown |
Records
Existing records at the start of the event.| World Record | 2:56.16 | Mexico City Mexico City Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole... , Mexico Mexico The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of... |
October 20, 1968 | |
| Championship Record | New event | |||
Heats
All times shown are in minutes.Heat 1
United States (Alonzo BabersAlonzo BabersAlonzo C. Babers is a former American athlete, winner of two gold medals at the 1984 Summer Olympics, in the 400 m and the 4x400 m relay....
, Willie Smith, Andre PhillipsAndre PhillipsAndré Lamar Phillips is a retired American Track and Field athlete who is best known for winning the 400 metres hurdles gold medal at the 1988 Olympic Games....
, Michael FranksMichael Franks (athlete)Michael "Mike" Franks is a former American track and field athlete who competed in the 400-meter dash.He was the silver medalist in the event at the inaugural 1983 World Championships in Athletics. He was given the Harrison Dillard Award in 1984 for his achievements...
) 3:06.62 Q- West Germany (Martin WepplerMartin WepplerMartin Weppler is a retired West German sprinter who specialized in the 400 metres.- Biography :He was born in Schramberg. He won a gold medal in the 4 x 400 metres relay at the 1978 European Championships together with Franz-Peter Hofmeister, Bernd Herrmann und Harald Schmid...
, Jörg VaihingerJörg VaihingerJörg Vaihinger was a West German athlete who competed mainly in the 400 metres.He competed for West Germany in the 1988 Summer Olympics held in Seoul, South Korea in the 4 x 400 metre relay where he won the bronze medal with his team mates Norbert Dobeleit, Edgar Itt and Ralf Lübke.-References:...
, Harald SchmidHarald SchmidHarald Schmid is a former German track-and-field athlete.Schmid was one of the best 400 m hurdles runners in the world. His duels with Edwin Moses during the late 1970s and early 1980s are unforgettable. His race against Moses in Rome, 1987, is ranked as one of the races of the century...
, Hartmut WeberHartmut WeberHartmut Weber is a retired West German sprinter who specialized in the 400 metres.At the 1982 European Championships he won the gold medal with a lifetime best of 44.72 seconds. He also helped win the 4 x 400 metres relay with teammates Erwin Skamrahl, Harald Schmid and Thomas Giessing...
) 3:07.50 Q 
Italy (Stefano MalinverniStefano MalinverniStefano Malinverni was an Italian sprinter who specialized in the 400 metres.He won a bronze medal in the 4 x 400 metres relay at the 1980 Summer Olympics, with teammates Mauro Zuliani, Roberto Tozzi and Pietro Mennea....
, Donato SabiaDonato SabiaDonato Sabia is a retired Italian middle distance runner who specialized in the 800 metres.His personal best time was 1:43.88 minutes, achieved in June 1984 in Florence. In the 400 metres he had 45.73 seconds, achieved in June 1984 in Milan.-Achievements:-References:...
, Mauro ZulianiMauro ZulianiMauro Zuliani was an Italian sprinter who specialized in the 400 metres.He won a bronze medal in the 4 x 400 metres relay at the 1980 Summer Olympics, with teammates Stefano Malinverni, Roberto Tozzi and Pietro Mennea....
, Roberto RibaudRoberto RibaudRoberto Ribaud is a retired Italian sprinter who specialized in the 400 metres.His personal best time is 45.69 seconds, achieved in the heats of the 1986 European Championships in Stuttgart.- Achievements :-References:...
) 3:07.90 Q
Brazil (Antonio Diaz FerreiraAntônio Díaz FerreiraAntônio Euzébio Díaz Ferreira is a retired Brazilian hurdler.He won the 400 m hurdles bronze medal at the 1981 Summer Universiade...
, Agberto GuimarãesAgberto GuimarãesAgberto Conceição Guimarães is a former Brazilian middle distance runner who competed at the international level in the 1980s...
, José Luiz BarbosaJosé Luiz BarbosaJosé Luíz Barbosa is a former Brazilian 800m runner, who won the silver medal at the 1991 World Championships in Tokyo. A few weeks before, Barbosa had won the 800m race at the prestigious Letzigrund meeting in Zurich...
, Gerson A. Souza) 3:08.25 Q
Sweden (Tommy Johansson, Eric Josjö, Sven NylanderSven NylanderSven Olof Nylander is a retired hurdler from Sweden, who is best known for winning two silver medals at the European Championships during his career...
, Per-Erik Olsson) 3:08.33 q
Canada (Mark Guthrie, Douglas Hinds, Tim Bethune, Brian SaundersBrian SaundersBrian Saunders is an American sound engineer. He was nominated for an Academy Award in the category Best Sound for the film Gorillas in the Mist: The Story of Dian Fossey.-External links:...
) 3:08.37 q
Jamaica (Steve GriffithsSteve GriffithsJames Stephen "Steve" Griffiths was an English footballer who played for Halifax Town, Aldershot, Barnsley and York City in the Football League.-Career:...
, George Walcott, Devon MorrisDevon MorrisDevon Morris is a retired Jamaican sprinter who mainly competed over 400 metres. He won this distance at the 1991 IAAF World Indoor Championships, and his personal best time was 45.49 s, achieved during the 1987 World Championships. At the 1988 Summer Olympics he won a silver medal with the...
, Karl SmithKarl SmithKarl Brian Smith is a former English cricketer. Smith was a right-handed batsman who bowled right-arm medium pace. He was born at Leicester, Leicestershire....
) 3:09.06
Finland (Jari Niemelä, Mauri Siekkinen, Matti Rusanen, Hannu Mykrä) 3:09.23
Heat 2
Hungary (Gusztav Menczer, Sándor Újhelyi, István Takács, Sándor Vasvári) 3:09.95 Q- Soviet Union (Viktor MarkinViktor MarkinViktor Fyodorovich Markin is a former Soviet athlete, winner of two gold medals at the 1980 Summer Olympics....
, Sergey LovachovSergey LovachovSergey Lovachov is a retired track and field sprinter from Uzbekistan, known for winning the gold medal for the Soviet Union in the men's 4x400 metres relay at the inaugural 1983 World Championships. He did so alongside Aleksandr Troshchilo, Nikolay Chernetskiy, and Viktor Markin, clocking a total...
, Aleksandr TroshchiloAleksandr TroshchiloAleksandr Troshchilo is a retired track and field sprinter from the Soviet Union, known for winning the bronze medal in the men's 4x400 metres relay at the 1982 European Championships...
, Nikolay ChernetskiyNikolay ChernetskiyNikolay Chernetskiy is a retired track and field sprinter from the Soviet Union, known for winning the gold medal in the men's 4x400 metres relay at the inaugural 1983 World Championships. He did so alongside Aleksandr Troshchilo, Sergey Lovachov, and Viktor Markin, clocking a total time of 3:00.79...
) 3:10.16 Q - United Kingdom (Kriss AkabusiKriss AkabusiKriss Kezie Uche Chukwu Duru Akabusi MBE is a former sprint and hurdling athlete from the United Kingdom. During his career, he won the gold medal in the 400 metres hurdles at the 1990 European Championships, a gold in the 4 x 400 metres relay at the 1991 World Championships, and a silver medal in...
, Garry CookGarry CookGarry Cook is a former British athlete, who competed mainly in the 800 metres with a best time of 1:44.55.He competed for Great Britain in the 1984 Summer Olympics held in Los Angeles, United States in the 4 x 400 metre relay where he won the Silver medal with his team mates Kriss Akabusi, Todd...
, Todd BennettTodd BennettTodd Anthony Bennett was a British athlete who competed mainly in the 400 metres.He competed for Great Britain in the 1984 Summer Olympics held in Los Angeles, United States in the 4 x 400 metre relay where he won the Silver medal with his team mates Kriss Akabusi, Garry Cook and Philip...
, Philip Brown) 3:10.19 Q 
Senegal (Amadou Dia BaAmadou Dia BaEl Hadj Amadou Dia Ba is a retired Senegalese athlete who competed in 400 metres hurdles. He won the 1988 Olympic silver medal is this event with a personal best time of 47.23s. He competed in three consecutive Summer Olympics for his native country, starting in 1984.-Achievements:-External links:...
, Moussa Fall, Babacar NiangBabacar NiangBabacar Niang is a retired Senegalese-French middle distance runner who specialized in the 800 metres.-Achievements:-External links:...
, Boubacar Diallo) 3:10.90 Q
Australia (Bruce FrayneBruce FrayneBruce Frayne is a retired Australian sprinter who specialized in the 200 and 400 metres. He was Australian Champion in the 200 metres 1980, 81, and 1983...
, Gary MinihanGary MinihanGary Minihan is a retired Australian sprinter who specialized in the 400 metres.At the 1982 Commonwealth Games he won a bronze medal in 400 metres and a silver medal in 4 x 400 metres relay....
, Paul Gilbert, Darren ClarkDarren ClarkDarren Edward Clark is a retired Australian sprinter who specialized in the 400 metres.His personal best time of 44.38 seconds, achieved at the 1988 Olympics, is the current Oceanian record....
) 3:11.62
} DNS
} DNS
Heat 3
Early Modern France (Jacques FelliceJacques FelliceJacques Fellice is a French athlete who specialises in the 4 x 400 meter relay. Fellice competed at the 1980 Summer Olympics and 1984 Summer Olympics.- References :*...
, Yann Quentrec, Hector Llaster, Aldo Canti) 3:06.99 Q
Czechoslovakia (Miroslav Zahorak, Petr Brecka, Dušan Malovec, Ján Tomko) 3:07.03 Q
Poland (Ryszard Wichrowski, Ryszard Szparak, Andrzej Stępień, Ryszard PodlasRyszard PodlasRyszard Podlas was a Polish sprinter who specialized in the 400 metres.He was born in Białobrzezie and represented the club Technika Pracze. He won the silver medal in the 4 x 400 metre relay at the 1976 Summer Olympics with his teammates Jan Werner, Zbigniew Jaremski and Jerzy Pietrzyk...
) 3:07.18 Q
Japan (Kazunori Asaba, Tomoharu Isobe, Hirofumi Koike, Susumu Takano) 3:07.23 Q
Spain (Juan José Prado, Antonio SánchezAntonio Sánchez (athlete)Antonio Sánchez is a retired Spanish sprinter who specialized in the 400 metres.He won the gold medal at the 1987 Mediterranean Games and finished sixth at the 1986 European Championships in a career best time of 45.41 seconds.He also competed at the World Championships in 1987 and 1991 and the...
, Carlos Azulay, Angel Heras) 3:07.42 q
Kenya (Elijah Bitok, John Anzrah, James Atuti, Juma Ndiwa) 3:07.48 q
Côte d'Ivoire (Georges Kablan Degnan, Rene Djedjemel MeledjeRené Djédjémel MélédjéRené Djédjémel Mélédjé is a retired Côte d'Ivoire hurdler.At the 1985 African Championships he won the 110 metres hurdles and finished third in the 400 metres hurdles...
, Avognan Nogboum, Gabriel TiacohGabriel TiacohGabriel Tiacoh was a sprinter from Côte d'Ivoire who specialised in the 400 metres. He is best known for winning his nation's sole Olympic medal thus far, in the 400 meters in 1984....
) 3:09.23
} (John Goville
John Goville
John Goville is a retired Ugandan sprinter who specialized in the 200 and 400 metres.Govile finished seventh in 4 x 400 metres relay at the 1984 Summer Olympics, together with teammates Moses Kyeswa, Peter Rwamuhanda and Mike Okot, in a national record time of 3:02.09 minutes.On the individual...
, Mike Okot
Mike Okot
Mike Okot is a retired Ugandan sprinter who specialized in the 400 and 800 metres.Okot finished seventh in 4 x 400 metres relay at the 1984 Summer Olympics, together with teammates John Goville, Moses Kyeswa and Peter Rwamuhanda, in a national record time of 3:02.09 minutes.On the individual level...
, Charles Mbazira, Moses Kyeswa
Moses Kyeswa
Moses Kyeswa is a retired Ugandan sprinter who specialized in the 400 metres.Kyeswa finished seventh in 4 x 400 metres relay at the 1984 Summer Olympics, together with teammates John Goville, Peter Rwamuhanda and Mike Okot, in a national record time of 3:02.09 minutes. On the individual level he...
) DQ
Heat 1
- United States (Alonzo Babers, Sunder NixSunder NixSunder L. Nix was a 1984 Summer Olympics gold medalist in the men's 4x400 meter relay for the United States.-References:*...
, Willie Smith, Edwin MosesEdwin MosesEdwin Corley Moses is an American track and field athlete who won gold medals in the 400 metre hurdles at the 1976 and 1984 Olympics. Between 1977 and 1987, Moses won 107 consecutive finals and set the world record in his event four times...
) 3:02.13 Q - West Germany (Erwin SkamrahlErwin SkamrahlErwin Skamrahl is a retired West German sprinter who specialized in the 200 and 400 metres.At the 1982 European Championships he finished fourth in the 200 metres, won a bronze medal in the 4 x 100 metres relay and a gold medal in the 4 x 400 metres relay...
, Jörg Vaihinger, Edgar Nakladal, Harald Schmid) 3:04.96 Q - Poland (Ryszard Wichrowski, Ryszard Szparak, Andrzej Stępień, Ryszard Podlas) 3:05.51 Q
- Italy (Stefano Malinverni, Donato Sabia, Mauro Zuliani, Roberto Ribaud) 3:05.70 Q
- Canada (Brian Saunders, Douglas Hinds, Ian Newhouse, Tim Bethune) 3:06.42
- Japan (Tomoharu Isobe, Kazunori Asaba, Hirofumi Koike, Susumu Takano) 3:07.11
- Senegal (Moussa Fall, Babacar Niang, Mathurin Barry, Amadou Dia Ba) 3:09.63
- Hungary (Gusztav Menczer, Sándor Újhelyi, István Takács, Sándor Vasvári) 3:11.08
Heat 2
- Soviet Union (Sergey Lovachov, Aleksandr Troshchilo, Nikolay Chernetskiy, Viktor Markin) 3:03.75 Q
- United Kingdom (Kriss Akabusi, Garry Cook, Todd Bennett, Philip Brown) 3:04.03 Q
- Czechoslovakia (Miroslav Zahorak, Petr Brecka, Dušan Malovec, Ján Tomko) 3:04.32 Q
- Sweden (Tommy Johansson, Eric Josjö, Sven Nylander, Per-Erik Olsson) 3:04.32 Q
- Brazil (Antonio Diaz Ferreira, Agberto Guimarães, José Luiz Barbosa, Gerson A. Souza) 3:04.46 (AR)
- Early Modern France (Jacques Fellice, Yann Quentrec, Hector Llaster, Aldo Canti) 3:05.09
- Kenya (David KiturDavid KiturDavid Kitur is a retired Kenyan runner, who specialised in 400 metres.In 1983, at the inaugural world championships he was part of the Kenyan 4x400 metres relay team, which reached semifinals....
, John Anzrah, James Atuti, James Maina BoiJames Maina BoiJames Maina Boi was a Kenyan middle distance runner. He is best known for winning the 800 metres distance at the 1978 All-Africa Games and a silver medal at the 1982 Commonwealth Games....
) 3:05.30 - Spain (Juan José Prado, Antonio Sánchez, Carlos Azulay, Angel Heras) 3:09.68
Final
- Soviet Union (Sergey Lovachov, Aleksandr Troshchilo, Nikolay Chernetskiy, Viktor Markin) 3:00.79
- West Germany (Erwin Skamrahl, Jörg Vaihinger, Harald Schmid, Hartmut Weber) 3:01.83
- United Kingdom (Ainsley BennettAinsley BennettAinsley Bennett is a British former Olympic and World Championship sprinter from Birmingham, UK.-Early life:Brought up in Birmingham, West Midlands, in the UK, Bennett attended Naseby Secondary Modern School , in the area known as Alum Rock, Birmingham...
, Garry Cook, Todd Bennett, Philip Brown) 3:03.53 - Czechoslovakia (Miroslav Zahorak, Petr Brecka, Dušan Malovec, Ján Tomko) 3:03.90
- Italy (Stefano Malinverni, Donato Sabia, Mauro Zuliani, Roberto Ribaud) 3:05.10
- United States (Alonzo Babers, Sunder Nix, Willie Smith, Edwin Moses) 3:05.29
- Sweden (Tommy Johansson, Eric Josjö, Per-Erik Olsson, Ulf Sedlacek) 3:08.57
} (Ryszard Wichrowski, Ryszard Szparak, Andrzej Stępień, Ryszard Podlas) DNF