Canadian teen denied world record despite posting fastest-ever run
Canadian sprinter Christopher Morales Williams is now the all-time fastest runner in the indoor men’s 400 metres; however, his most recent performance will not be officially ratified due to a technical detail.
The 19-year-old University of Georgia sophomore, originally from Vaughan, Ontario, recently ran a record-breaking time of 44.49 seconds at the Randal Tyson Track Center on Saturday to win the NCAA Southeastern Conference indoor championships.
Here’s the race no one can seem to find.
Christopher Morales Williams 🇨🇦 (@UGATrack) 400m WR of 44.49 at the SEC Champs!!!
🎥 @SECNetwork pic.twitter.com/FcsOCdZC6L
— Owen M (@_OwenM_) February 25, 2024
However, his jaw-dropping run can’t be submitted to World Athletics for record consideration, all thanks to a Starter Information System (SIS) that was not in operation at the championships.
“For performances up to and including 400m (including 4x200m and 4x400m) under Rule 32 of the competition rules, starting blocks linked to a World Athletics certified Start Information System under Rule 15.3 of the Technical Rules must have been used and have functioned correctly so that reaction times were obtained and are shown on the results of the event,” rule 31.14.5 of the sports governing body reads.
Feel like this has happened enough times that the SEC should start mandating WA-approved blocks and timing systems for all conference meets.
— AJ Fitzgerald (@ajfitz4) February 27, 2024
It’s still not clear why the Starter Information System was not used during the competition. Despite this, Morales Williams continues to have a positive attitude about his commendable performance.
This is terrible. If it is because the approved equipment wasn’t used then what are these conferences doing? These are world class athletes!
— Sully 🌐🇺🇸 (@babysully) February 27, 2024
“It doesn’t change the fact that I still ran the time,” he told the University of Georgia’s website.
I need an explanation regarding the starting blocks!! Never heard of this.
— V-Tesse Track (@VTesseTrack) February 27, 2024
“It’s still the fastest time in the world, so it really doesn’t bother me at all. It’s not ratified, but it’s still there. It really doesn’t make too much of a difference. It doesn’t bother me.”
Unbelievable
— Shane D (@atpkerry) February 24, 2024
The national sport governing body for track and field in Canada, Athletic Canada, said Morales Williams’ latest record will stand as a new national best, pending national team committee confirmation.
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