00:00The men's 400m heat of the World Championships is set to take place on Sunday, September
00:0514th.
00:06National record holder over the distance Jareem Richards is slated to be on the list
00:10of starters.
00:11What are his chances of winning this event on his current form?
00:15At present, the 31-year-old is ranked 9th in the world over the distance according to
00:20World Athletics.
00:21It's been an up and down season for Richards after a promising start.
00:25The period from April to July had been his slowest for the year so far.
00:31He won the 200m with a time of 20.21 seconds at the national championships in April.
00:37In July, he had to settle for 6th spot with a time of 20.34 seconds against the likes of
00:42Noah Lyles and Let's See Letty Bogo.
00:45His time in the 400m in July stood at 45.11 seconds when he raced in Switzerland.
00:51Before that, he enjoyed a hot streak at Michael Johnson's Grand Slam Track meets, where he
00:56clocked the season's best time and world leading time at that stage of 19.86 seconds
01:02over 200m, but that was back in March.
01:05His time in the 400m over that same period stood at 44.32 seconds.
01:10Now, could Richards be peaking again?
01:14His times in the 400m have gotten faster.
01:18Just last month, he improved on the 44.32 second time at Grand Slam to run 44.14 seconds
01:25in Hungary.
01:27It was a noteworthy sprint as well considering how he closed the race.
01:32Getting faster in the 400m usually means that his times have dropped in the 200 as well.
01:37Will it be enough to match the best in the world over 400m?
01:40He will be up against the likes of South Africa's Zakiti Nini, 43.76, Jackery Patterson, 43.85,
01:49and Caleb McRae, 43.91 seconds over the 400m.
01:54At present, Richards' personal best stands at 43.78 seconds, which is set at the 2024 Olympics.
02:00He takes great pride in representing TNT and it may give him the edge he needs to medal,
02:06if not win, against the best in the world.
02:08I want to be that name that opens the floodgates for the next generation.
02:13Not for the glory, not for the spotlight, but to carry the dream.
02:17For every young athlete who wonders if it's possible.
02:22Let me show you, it is.
02:25We do belong on the world stage.
02:27We can be frontrunners.
02:29And we will be will-beaters again and again and again.
02:34Sergio Dufour, TVSexport.
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