1987 World Championships in Athletics – Men's 4 x 400 metres relay
Encyclopedia
The 4 x 400 metres relay
at the 1987 World Championships in Athletics
was held at the Stadio Olimpico
on September 5 and September 6.
German Democratic Republic (Jens Carlowitz, Frank Möller
, Mathias Schersing, Thomas Schönlebe) DNF
Soviet Union (Yevgeniy Lomtyev, Vladimir Prosin, Aleksandr Kurochkin, Vladimir Krylov
) DNF
Nigeria (Moses Ugbisie, Joseph Falaye, Henry Amike, Innocent Egbunike) DNS
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 1987 World Championships in Athletics
1987 World Championships in Athletics
The 2nd World Championships in Athletics under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations were held in the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy between August 28 and September 6, 1987.-Track:1983 | 1987 | 1991 | 1993 | 1995...
was held at the Stadio Olimpico
Stadio Olimpico
The Stadio Olimpico is the main and largest sports facility of Rome, Italy. It is located within the Foro Italico sports complex on the north of the city. An asset of the Italian National Olympic Committee, the structure is intended primarily for football...
on September 5 and September 6.
Medals
| Gold: | Silver: | Bronze: |
 United StatesDanny Everett Danny Everett Daniel Joseph Everett is a 400 metre runner from the United States. As a 21-year-old he participated in the 1988 Summer Olympics and won a bronze medal in the individual event and a gold medal with the United States 4x400 m relay... Roddie Haley Antonio McKay Antonio McKay Antonio McKay Sr. is a former track and field athlete who specialized in the 400 meters.-Career:... Harry Reynolds Butch Reynolds Harry "Butch" Reynolds is an American former track and field athlete who competed in the 400 meter dash. He held the world record for the event for eleven years with his personal best time of 43.29 seconds set in 1988. That year he was the silver medalist at the 1988 Seoul Olympics and a... |
 United KingdomDerek Redmond Derek Redmond Derek Anthony Redmond is a retired British athlete. During his career, he held the British record for the 400 metres sprint, and won gold medals in the 4x400 metres relay at the World Championships, European Championships and Commonwealth Games.However his career was blighted by a series of... Kriss Akabusi Kriss Akabusi Kriss 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... Roger Black Roger Black Roger Anthony Black MBE is a retired British athlete. During his athletics career, he won individual silver medals in the 400 metres sprint at both the Olympic Games and World Championships, two individual gold medals at the European Championships, and 4x400 metres relay gold medals at both the... Philip Brown Phil Brown (athlete) Philip Andrew Brown was a British athlete who competed mainly in the 400 metres. In the individual 400m his results were not outstanding; however, he was an exceptional anchor leg relay runner, anchoring the British team to a number of medals.Brown competed for Great Britain in the 1984 Summer... |
 CubaLeandro Peñalver Leandro Peñalver Leandro Peñalver is a retired Cuban athlete who competed in the sprints. His personal best is 10.06 seconds, achieved in Caracas in 1983.-External links:... Agustin Pavó Agustin Pavó Agustín Pavó is a retired male track and field athlete from Cuba who competed in the sprint events during his career. He won the gold medal in the men's 4 x 400 metres relay at the 1991 Pan American Games, alongside teammates Héctor Herrera, Jorge Valentin and Lázaro Martínez.-References:... Lázaro Martínez Lazaro Martínez Lázaro Martínez Despaigne is a retired Cuban sprinter who specialized in the 400 metres.He won an Olympic silver medal in 4 x 400 metres relay in Barcelona 1992. His personal best of 46.12 was set during the 1991 World Championships.... Roberto Hernández |
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 | 3:00.79 | Helsinki Helsinki Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is... , Finland Finland Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside... |
August 14, 1983 |
Heats
All times shown are in seconds.Heat 1
- United States (Danny EverettDanny EverettDaniel Joseph Everett is a 400 metre runner from the United States. As a 21-year-old he participated in the 1988 Summer Olympics and won a bronze medal in the individual event and a gold medal with the United States 4x400 m relay...
, 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...
, Raymond PierreRaymond PierreRaymond Pierre is a former American track and field athlete, who competed in the sprinting events during his career. He is best known for winning the men's 400-meter dash event at the 1987 Pan American Games....
, Antonio McKayAntonio McKayAntonio McKay Sr. is a former track and field athlete who specialized in the 400 meters.-Career:...
) 3:03.00 Q - German Democratic Republic (Mathias Schersing, Michael Schimmer, Jens CarlowitzJens CarlowitzJens Carlowitz is a retired East German sprinter.His personal best time was 44.86 seconds, achieved at the 1989 World Cup in Barcelona...
, Thomas SchönlebeThomas SchönlebeThomas Schönlebe is a former German 400 metres runner who won the gold medal at the 1987 World Championships in Athletics in Rome...
) 3:03.57 Q 
Kingdom of Yugoslavia (Branislav Karaulić, Slobodan Popović, Slobodan BrankovićSlobodan BrankovićSlobodan Branković is a Serbian former track and field athlete who specialised in the 400 metres. He is currently the general secretary of the Athletics Federation of Serbia....
, Ismail Mačev) 3:03.89 Q- Nigeria (Moses Ugbisie, Joseph Falaye, Henry AmikeHenry AmikeHenry Amike is a retired Nigerian athlete who specialized in the 400 metres hurdles.-Achievements:-External links:...
, Innocent EgbunikeInnocent EgbunikeInnocent Egbunike is a former sprinter from Nigeria who won an Olympic bronze medal in 4 x 400 metres relay in Los Angeles 1984...
) 3:03.90 Q 
Canada (Andre Smith, Courtney Brown, John Graham, Anton Skerritt) 3:04.08 q
Spain (Cayetano CornetCayetano CornetCayetano Cornet Pamies is a retired 400 metres runner from Spain. He was born in Reus, Catalonia.He won the European Indoor Championships in 1986 as well as two World Indoor Championships bronze medals and one European Indoor Championships bronze medal....
, 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...
, José AlonsoJosé Alonso (athlete)José Alonso Valero is a retired Spanish hurdler, who specialized in the 400 metres hurdles. During the indoor season he competed over 400 metres, winning two medals at the 1985 and 1986 European Indoor Championships.-Achievements:-References:*...
, Angel Heras) 3:05.02 q
Côte d'Ivoire (Akissi Kpidi, Zongo Kuyo, Djedjemel Anatole, René MélédjéRené 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...
) 3:05.34
Republic of Ireland (Kieran Finn, Gerry Delaney, John Barry, Peter Sinclair) 3:07.18
Heat 2
Kenya (Joseph Sainah, Elijah Bitok, Tito Sawe, John Anzrah) 3:02.32 Q- Cuba (Leandro PeñalverLeandro PeñalverLeandro Peñalver is a retired Cuban athlete who competed in the sprints. His personal best is 10.06 seconds, achieved in Caracas in 1983.-External links:...
, Agustin PavóAgustin PavóAgustín Pavó is a retired male track and field athlete from Cuba who competed in the sprint events during his career. He won the gold medal in the men's 4 x 400 metres relay at the 1991 Pan American Games, alongside teammates Héctor Herrera, Jorge Valentin and Lázaro Martínez.-References:...
, Lázaro MartínezLazaro MartínezLázaro Martínez Despaigne is a retired Cuban sprinter who specialized in the 400 metres.He won an Olympic silver medal in 4 x 400 metres relay in Barcelona 1992. His personal best of 46.12 was set during the 1991 World Championships....
, Roberto Hernández) 3:02.62 Q - Soviet Union (Arkadiy Kornilov, Yevgeniy Lomtyev, Vladimir Prosin, Aleksandr Kurochkin) 3:02.79 Q
Jamaica (Mark Senior, 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...
, Winthrop GrahamWinthrop GrahamWinthrop Graham is a retired athlete who mainly competed in the 400 metres hurdles. He won two Olympic medals and three World Championship medals....
, Bert CameronBert CameronBertland Cameron is a retired Jamaican sprinter who mainly competed over 400 metres. He represented Jamaica at three consecutive editions of the Summer Olympics. Cameron won the 400 m title at the first World Championships in Athletics...
) 3:05.11 Q
Czechoslovakia (Jindrich Roun, Stanislav Navesnak, Jozef Kucej, Lubos Balosak) 3:05.44
Brazil (Washington Rodrigues, Sérgio Menezes, Gerson A. Souza, José Luíz 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...
) 3:05.64
Heat 3
- United Kingdom (Mark Thomas, 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...
, 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 BrownPhil Brown (athlete)Philip Andrew Brown was a British athlete who competed mainly in the 400 metres. In the individual 400m his results were not outstanding; however, he was an exceptional anchor leg relay runner, anchoring the British team to a number of medals.Brown competed for Great Britain in the 1984 Summer...
) 3:03.75 Q 
Japan (Koichi Konakatomi, Kenji Yamauchi, Hiromi Kawasumi, Susumu Takano) 3:03.86 Q
West Germany (Peter Schwelm, Mark Henrich, Klaus JustKlaus JustKlaus Just is a retired West German sprinter.His personal best time was 45.52 seconds, achieved in August 1985 in Stuttgart.Just represented the sports club SV Salamander Kornwestheim.-Achievements:...
, Edgar IttEdgar IttEdgar Itt was a West German athlete who competed for West Germany at the 1988 Summer Olympics held in Seoul, South Korea where he won the bronze medal in the 4 x 400 metre relay with his team mates Norbert Dobeleit, Jörg Vaihinger and Ralf Lübke. He finished in eight position in the final of the...
) 3:03.87 Q
Australia (Robert Stone, 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....
, Peter Stubbs, 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....
) 3:04.22 Q
Italy (Marcello Pantone, Vito PetrellaVito PetrellaVito Petrella is a retired Italian sprinter who specialized in the 400 metres.His personal best time is 46"15 seconds, achieved in August 1988 in Sestriere....
, Andrea MontanariAndrea MontanariAndrea Montanari is a retired Italian sprinter who specialized in the 400 metres.He finished fourth in the 4x400 m relay at the 1990 European Championships, with teammates Vito Petrella, Roberto Ribaud and Andrea Nuti....
, 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:...
) 3:04.64 q
Early Modern France (Aldo Canti, Jean-Jacques Boussemart, Patrick BarréPatrick BarréPatrick Barré is a former athlete from France who competed mainly in the 100 metres.He competed for a France in the 1980 Summer Olympics held in Moscow, Soviet Union, in the 4 x 100 metre relay, where he won the bronze medal with his team mates Antoine Richard, Pascal Barré and Hermann...
, Yann Quentrec) 3:04.64 q
Chinese Taipei (Kuang-Liang Lin, Ruo-Ta Hsu, Shiun-Long Lee, Tsai-Tien Lin) 3:11.45
Heat 1
- Cuba (Leandro Peñalver, Agustin Pavó, Lázaro Martínez, Roberto Hernández) 3:00.99 Q
- United Kingdom (Mark Thomas, Kriss Akabusi, Todd Bennett, Philip Brown) 3:01.47 Q
- Soviet Union (Arkadiy Kornilov, Yevgeniy Lomtyev, Vladimir Prosin, Aleksandr Kurochkin) 3:01.61 Q
- Nigeria (Moses Ugbisie, Joseph Falaye, Henry Amike, Innocent Egbunike) 3:01.92 Q
- Canada (Andre Smith, Courtney Brown, John Graham, Anton Skerritt) 3:02.90
- Early Modern France (Aldo Canti, Jean-Jacques Boussemart, Patrick Barré, Yann Quentrec) 3:03.41
- Japan (Koichi Konakatomi, Kenji Yamauchi, Hiromi Kawasumi, Susumu Takano) 3:04.86
- Spain (Cayetano Cornet, Antonio Sánchez, José Alonso, Angel Heras) 3:06.41
Heat 2
- United States (Danny Everett, Michael Franks, Raymond Pierre, Antonio McKay) 2:59.06 (CR) Q
- Kenya (Joseph Sainah, Elijah Bitok, 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) 3:00.73 Q - Jamaica (Mark Senior, Devon Morris, Winthrop Graham, Bert Cameron) 3:01.08 (NR) Q
- West Germany (Peter Schwelm, Edgar Itt, Klaus Just, Mark Henrich) 3:01.18 Q
- Kingdom of Yugoslavia (Branislav Karaulić, Slobodan Popović, Slobodan Branković, Ismail Mačev) 3:03.30 (NR)
- Italy (Marcello Pantone, Vito Petrella, Tiziano Gemelli, Roberto Ribaud) 3:03.91
- Australia (Robert Stone, Gary Minihan, Peter Stubbs, Darren Clark) 3:04.59
German Democratic Republic (Jens Carlowitz, Frank MöllerFrank Möller (athlete)
Frank Möller is a retired East German sprinter.He finished fourth in the 4 x 400 metres relay at the 1988 Olympic Games, with teammates Jens Carlowitz, Mathias Schersing and Thomas Schönlebe.-References:...
, Mathias Schersing, Thomas Schönlebe) DNF
Final
- United States (Danny Everett, Roddie Haley, Antonio McKay, Harry ReynoldsButch ReynoldsHarry "Butch" Reynolds is an American former track and field athlete who competed in the 400 meter dash. He held the world record for the event for eleven years with his personal best time of 43.29 seconds set in 1988. That year he was the silver medalist at the 1988 Seoul Olympics and a...
) 2:57.29 (CR) - United Kingdom (Derek RedmondDerek RedmondDerek Anthony Redmond is a retired British athlete. During his career, he held the British record for the 400 metres sprint, and won gold medals in the 4x400 metres relay at the World Championships, European Championships and Commonwealth Games.However his career was blighted by a series of...
, Kriss Akabusi, Roger BlackRoger BlackRoger Anthony Black MBE is a retired British athlete. During his athletics career, he won individual silver medals in the 400 metres sprint at both the Olympic Games and World Championships, two individual gold medals at the European Championships, and 4x400 metres relay gold medals at both the...
, Philip Brown) 2:58.86 (AR) - Cuba (Leandro Peñalver, Agustin Pavó, Lázaro Martínez, Roberto Hernández) 2:59.16 (NR)
- West Germany (Norbert DobeleitNorbert DobeleitNorbert Dobeleit is a German television personality and retired athlete. During his active career he represented West Germany and specialized in the 200 and 400 metres....
, Mark Henrich, Edgar Itt, 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...
) 2:59.96 (NR) - Kenya (Joseph Sainah, John Anzrah, Elijah Bitok, David Kitur) 3:01.67
- Jamaica (Mark Senior, Devon Morris, Winthrop Graham, Bert Cameron) 3:04.53
Soviet Union (Yevgeniy Lomtyev, Vladimir Prosin, Aleksandr Kurochkin, Vladimir KrylovVladimir Krylov
Vladimir Valentinovich Krylov is a former Soviet athlete. He was Soviet 100, 200 and 400 metres champion, and also Soviet indoor 200 metres in 1989....
) DNF
Nigeria (Moses Ugbisie, Joseph Falaye, Henry Amike, Innocent Egbunike) DNS