Canadian sprinter’s world record not ratified, due to starting block issue

Christopher Morales Williams’s 400m indoor world record of 44.49 seconds will not be ratified, according to the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, due to an issue with the starting blocks.

The 44.49 that Christopher Morales Williams of @UGATrack ran this past weekend in the 400 meters at the @SEC Indoor Championships will remain an all-time world best since it can't be ratified due to an issue with the starting blocks. CMW was drug tested after the competition, so…

— USTFCCCA (@USTFCCCA) February 27, 2024

The 19-year-old sprinter shocked the track and field world last weekend when he ran nearly a full second’s personal best in the men’s 400m at the SEC Conference Championships in Arkansas to break the 400m indoor world record of 44.57. Kerron Clement’s world indoor 400m record from 2005 will stand, due to an issue with the setup of the starting blocks for the men’s 400m at the Randal Tyson Track Centre. 

This is the second time a sprinter has broken Clement’s world record and not had it ratified. In 2018, Michael Norman ran a staggering 44.52 seconds in Albuquerque, N.M., but it was not ratified because the track where the record was set did not meet certain requirements specified by World Athletics. These requirements typically include factors such as track surface, track dimensions and other environmental conditions to ensure fairness and comparability across different indoor facilities.

Christopher Morales Williams ran the fastest indoor 400m in WORLD HISTORY (44.49)

He's a sophomore at Georgia and 19-years-old 😳pic.twitter.com/qhxR5wPtMS

— Travis Miller (@travismillerx13) February 25, 2024

In Morales Williams’s case, the starting blocks need to be electronic and linked to a certified start information system as per Rule 15.3 of the World Athletics Technical Rules so reaction times are observed and shown on the event results. This regulation is in place to ensure consistency and fairness for all athletes. According to Matthew Downs, the director of track and field at the University of Arkansas (the location of the 2024 SEC Conference Indoor Championships), no NCAA meets other than the NCAA Track and Field Championships use the starting block sensors.

Even though Morales Williams’s time won’t count for the world record, it will still stand for Olympic qualification in the men’s 400m. Morales Williams will have another shot at the record in two weeks’ time, at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships, where he hopes to accomplish his dream of winning an NCAA championship with the University of Georgia.